Before I even begin, I want everyone to know that this post is less of a "What NOT to do in PR" and more of a "I'm completely outraged."
On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, I was on my way back to work. I had the radio up, listening to the Michael Baisden show on 96.1 JAMZ. The major subject of the show (the reason Baisden showed up to work, even though he was ill) was the editorial cartoon that appeared in the New York Post on the same day. If you're unfamiliar with the cartoon I am referring to, simply Google "NY Post cartoon" and the image will be the first result.
The cartoon is of two police officers standing over a monkey who has been shot to death. The officer's gun is smoking and the monkey is lying in a pool of its own blood, with two visible bullet holes . The cartoon reads "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
Really? It's 2009, we have a black president and one of the world's leading newspapers allows its editorial cartoonist to publish racist material. What's worse is that the New York Post is defending the cartoon, saying "the cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event," (referring to the Connecticut woman who was recently mauled by a Chimpanzee).
Talk about bad publicity. The New York Post should have IMMEDIATELY issued an apology and the cartoonist should go draw somewhere else. I expect so much more from such a prominent newspaper.
-Gearey McLeod
On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, I was on my way back to work. I had the radio up, listening to the Michael Baisden show on 96.1 JAMZ. The major subject of the show (the reason Baisden showed up to work, even though he was ill) was the editorial cartoon that appeared in the New York Post on the same day. If you're unfamiliar with the cartoon I am referring to, simply Google "NY Post cartoon" and the image will be the first result.
The cartoon is of two police officers standing over a monkey who has been shot to death. The officer's gun is smoking and the monkey is lying in a pool of its own blood, with two visible bullet holes . The cartoon reads "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
Really? It's 2009, we have a black president and one of the world's leading newspapers allows its editorial cartoonist to publish racist material. What's worse is that the New York Post is defending the cartoon, saying "the cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event," (referring to the Connecticut woman who was recently mauled by a Chimpanzee).
Talk about bad publicity. The New York Post should have IMMEDIATELY issued an apology and the cartoonist should go draw somewhere else. I expect so much more from such a prominent newspaper.
-Gearey McLeod
WOW! That's horrible...crazyy...and EXTREMELY racist! I just can't believe that something like that was actually published by such a prestige newspaper in the first place. I guess it shows how undercover racist America still is....I know for a fact if it were a derogitor picture of jewish people or people against abortion or gun supporters...it would have been ALL OVER the news and wouldn't have even been published. That's CRAZY. ;(
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ReplyDeleteDr.D, thank you so much for this post. This post really has laid a great outline for me as a future PR Practitioner. Until you spoke about the APR in class I had never heard about it. I think it is important to receive certifications such as the APR, it shows others that you are an expert in the field of PR. I plan on getting two advance degrees when I leave FAMU and I have just added the APR to the list. In today's competitive marketplace it is so important to find ways to prove that you are the best and this is an excellent way to do so.
ReplyDelete-Nicole Jackson
Please excuse the above comment. This situation is sad but it is very real. It remindsa all of us that just because Barack Obama is president does not mean racsim is dead. In addition it further shows that there is still a disregard for racial sensitivity.
ReplyDeleteI think the New York Post should have issued an immediate apology as well. I think it is ridiculous that even in 2009 we are still being faced with racism. It really shows how much more we have to grow. I’m going to play the devil’s advocate for one second and say that I do see how they tied this into the recent events dealing with the chimpanzee. If they are being honest saying that that’s how they got their idea for the cartoon then fine I understand. But I really don’t think that is the case at all and I’m extremely disappointed with the New York Post.
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