More Fun With the Globe/Chuck Turner Debacle, From the Boston Globe Options

[jonerik]

THE OMBUDSMAN
A series of errors on lewd images
5/14/2004

IT IS AN understatement to say that the Globe erred when it ran a photo that, if you look closely, showed images of men dressed as soldiers having sex with unidentified women. It's also an understatement to say the paper regrets the error -- as was evident in the apology published yesterday as an editor's note. There's no excuse for what happened -- but, for the many readers who asked how the Globe could publish a photo that included sexually explicit and unauthenticated images, there is this explanation:

First, the context. On Tuesday Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner held a press conference to display photos he said showed Iraqi women being raped by US soldiers. Some news outlets didn't report on the press conference because the photos were unverified -- and there was reason to doubt them -- but the Globe Metro staff decided it was better to write the story, raise questions within it, and let voters judge Turner's actions.

Tuesday afternoon a photo staffer reviewed photos taken at the press conference. They showed Turner next to a display of four sexually explicit photos that he said were from Iraq. Picture editor Thea Breite -- failing, she says, to realize that the sexual images were recognizable -- asked the photography director, Catie Aldrich, if she had a problem with the photo running. Aldrich, who was on deadline and says she had no idea that Breite was asking about the photo's appropriateness, gave a routine OK.

At that point the question of taste, says Aldrich, should have been raised more explicitly. Says Breite, "I would have . . . if I had thought you could see something [inappropriate] in the photo."

That constituted Mistake No. 1, a misperception and a miscommunication, perhaps attributable to simple human error. But Mistake No. 2 is more troubling.

The photo, headed for the publication pipeline, should have been flagged for discussion by top editors, as all sensitive or graphic photos should be. Although several staffers saw it, no one set that process in motion; one raised a question but the message was not received in time. "There should have been a lot of checks and balances and, for whatever reason, there weren't," said Aldrich, who as photo chief takes ultimate responsibility for what she calls the "huge embarrassment."

"There was a lapse in judgments and procedures, and we apologize for it," said Globe Editor Martin Baron. The graphic nature of the photos and their lack of authentication made them unsuitable for publication, he said.

First edition carried the Page B2 photo three columns wide -- big enough to make out the roughly 1-inch square sexual images within it. In later editions it was made smaller at the request of Michael Larkin, a deputy managing editor, who said that although he could not discern the sexual images on the page proof he viewed, he wanted to play it safe, given the story's content.

On Wednesday many editors were shocked to see the photo in print. So were readers, who called in large number, many saying they were "disgusted" and "angry."

The photo quickly became the subject of talk shows and websites. It was held up as evidence of the Globe's "anti-Americanism," its desire to "bring down Bush" or discredit US troops. I think that criticism is off the mark. Yet the error could not have come at a worse time. Emotions about Iraq were running high even before the beheading of Nicholas Berg. That the Berg story shared the May 12 paper with the inappropriate photo only made things worse. Some readers called for the firing of various Globe editors. "We are not firing anybody," responds Baron. What will happen, he says, is conversations with staffers about following proper procedure.

One of the additionally unfortunate elements of the photo was that it made the accompanying story on Turner seem less skeptical. "Our intent . . . was to bring some scrutiny to allegations" by Turner "specifically his claims that he had evidence of extensive abuse committed by US soldiers," says Metro Editor Carolyn Ryan. Instead, the photo seemed to give weight to his case.

Various sources last week said the photos displayed by Turner came from a pornography website, and they may well have, although I could not trace it to the source. I did find one news website with a note from a woman identified as the porn site operator. She was quoted as saying the images, shot in Hungary, had been removed because they were used for anti-American purposes.

Publication of the photo in the Globe did not reflect the paper's editorial intent. But it did reflect the failure of its system to keep inappropriate material out of the paper. Baron was right to apologize.

The ombudsman represents the readers. Her opinions and conclusions are her own. Phone 617-929-3020 or, to leave a message, 929-3022. E-mail: ombud@globe.com.


© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.


Councilors sign letter condemning colleague
By Kevin Joy, Globe Correspondent, 5/14/2004

Six of Boston's 13 city councilors signed a letter condemning Councilor Chuck Turner for holding a news conference this week in which he displayed sexually graphic photographs that he said depicted US soldiers raping Iraqi women.

The letter, addressed to the press and public, described Turner's actions as "hasty, of dubious intent, highly inflammatory and embarrassing to those of us who support our troops."

"We, the undersigned members of the Boston City Council, disassociate ourselves from the disgraceful actions of Councilor Turner," the letter reads.

At a press briefing Tuesday, Turner said the public had a "right and responsibility to see the pictures," which he said showed US soldiers raping Iraqi women. A Globe story about Turner's news conference noted that the photographs contained no evidence indicating that the people in them were US soldiers or that the photos were taken in Iraq. At his news conference, Turner said he did not know the origin of the photos.

The councilors said they verified that the images matched photographs on a pornographic website.

"I was outraged," said Councilor Paul J. Scapicchio. "Chuck Turner speaks only for himself when he exhibits pornographic pictures and tries to paint a negative picture of the brave men and women who serve this country. I think we as a council are a very patriotic group."

Councilor Jerry McDermott said Turner's actions were "deplorable."

"The people of this city, and certainly our troops serving abroad, deserve better," he said.

The letter was also signed by councilors James M. Kelly, Maureen E. Feeney, John M. Tobin Jr., and council President Michael F. Flaherty.

Turner, who chairs the council's Human Rights Committee, did not return phone calls to his office yesterday.

In an editor's note yesterday, the Globe apologized for publishing a photograph taken at Turner's news conference that showed the pictures.

© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.


Turner's bogus photos
5/14/2004

THE RECENT actions of Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner were reckless and inflammatory. With no regard for truth or consequences, Turner unveiled graphic photographs at a Tuesday press conference, suggesting that the images portrayed the rape of Iraqi women by US soldiers. The display was an all-time low for a member of the City Council. Turner, now in his third term, used twisted logic to justify the photo array. While stopping short of claiming authenticity, Turner argued that "the American people have a right and responsibility to see the pictures" in light of recent revelations regarding abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

Turner's photos appear to match ones found on a pornographic website. Yesterday the Globe apologized for including a photo showing the images with the article about Turner's claims.

Unsubstantiated charges are becoming common in Turner's repertoire. Last September he accused City Council President Michael Flaherty of "institutional racism" when Flaherty tried to steer council business toward local concerns and away from resolutions on the Iraq conflict. One year earlier, Turner suggested that a police officer, not a robbery suspect, might have shot a 3-year-old boy. Again, he offered no credible evidence.

Turner represents Roxbury and parts of the South End, one of Boston's poorer districts. He could be working to improve housing, education, and job opportunities for his constituents. Instead, he makes a mockery of his office by mounting a bogus photo exhibit with Sadiki Kambon, a black activist known for barring whites from Kwanzaa celebrations.

Turner says he is "appalled" by the conduct of the war and offered the pictures "in good conscience," leaving authentication to news media. But if Turner is genuinely concerned about prisoner abuse by US military police, he has undermined that cause as well by giving fuel to outlandish claims that the Abu Ghraib prison photos were faked. Unfortunately, city councilors can be held in contempt only when they insult fellow councilors. But Turner's action are contemptuous of all Bostonians -- especially those serving honorably in the world's war zones.


© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.

More fun here and here.

[JohnnyBlack]

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!

Chuck Turner is holding another press conference today! Apparently he has photos of an ALIEN AUTOPSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

What can you say about The Globe? After all, was once the employer of such "creative writers like Patricia Smith, Mike Barnicle and yes Jason Blair. That said, they at least did the proper thing and apologized for their poor editorial judgement.

So how many news people are going to be at Chuck Turner's next press conference? He may get Street News but I would say the rest of them will likely stay home. I did like this exerpt from one of the above articles

Turner represents Roxbury and parts of the South End, one of Boston's poorer districts. He could be working to improve housing, education, and job opportunities for his constituents.

not to mention helping to stop the spread of CRIME

[smcd]

The Globe is a smug and arrogant rag with an amazingly blatant liberal agenda.

I'm delighted to see them exposed!!

[zack/bh]

The Globe is a smug and arrogant rag with an amazingly blatant liberal agenda.

I'm delighted to see them exposed!!

No matter your opinion of the Globe, they did us a service by inadvertently exposing Chuck Turner for the fraud that he is.
Many people just wrote him off as a whackjob, but were afraid to say anything because of the likelihood of being called a racist. It will be hard for him to recover from this.

That said, I bet he will be re-elected.

[TX Rocker]

I watched Shattered Glass last night about the Stephen Glass dust up at The New Republic. I think JOurnalism schools across the country should show that to incoming freshman. Glass, Smith, Blair, Barnicle and the countless others make credible journalists' jobs that much harder. Whoever said don't believe everything you read was really on to something.

[Guest]

The Globe is a smug and arrogant rag with an amazingly blatant liberal agenda.

I'm delighted to see them exposed!!

No matter your opinion of the Globe, they did us a service by inadvertently exposing Chuck Turner for the fraud that he is.
Many people just wrote him off as a whackjob, but were afraid to say anything because of the likelihood of being called a racist. It will be hard for him to recover from this.

That said, I bet he will be re-elected.

Yes, he probably will be. He's got a cushy job and a nice parking space to boot. I also hear he has tons of unpaid scofflaws against him. Then again the City Council never really attracted the brightest lights (ie. Dapper)

[Moon Man from Mars]

The Globe is a smug and arrogant rag with an amazingly blatant liberal agenda.

I'm delighted to see them exposed!!

here is something you might not recognize from "your people" the realization that they are not infalible, followed swiftly by an apology.

[yoda]

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!

Chuck Turner is holding another press conference today!  Apparently he has photos of an ALIEN AUTOPSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another press conference he will have. Someone has stolen his nose, they have!

[Scooter Skel]

Councilor Jerry McDermott said Turner's actions were "deplorable."

Brighton, represent!

[Guest]

Councilor Jerry McDermott said Turner's actions were "deplorable."

Brighton, represent!

Hey,

Is Albert "Dapper" O'Neil still alive? He came to my grandmother's wake and pretended he was everyone's buddy. That was a long time ago. I'm sure he's dead by now.

[jonerik]

Hey,

Is Albert "Dapper" O'Neil still alive? He came to my grandmother's wake and pretended he was everyone's buddy. That was a long time ago. I'm sure he's dead by now.

He kicked it, oh, three or four years ago, I think. Gotta give him credit: The people who loved him really loved him. And the people who hated him really hated him.

[Moon Man from Mars]

just like to repeat myself since i got no reaction

"The Globe is a smug and arrogant rag with an amazingly blatant liberal agenda.

I'm delighted to see them exposed!! "


here is something you might not recognize from "your people" the realization that they are not infalible, followed swiftly by an apology.

[jonerik]

No matter your opinion of the Globe, they did us a service by inadvertently exposing Chuck Turner for the fraud that he is.
Many people just wrote him off as a whackjob, but were afraid to say anything because of the likelihood of being called a racist. It will be hard for him to recover from this.

That said, I bet he will be re-elected.

Of course he will be. That said, at least it looks like half of his fellow city councilors have had just about enough of his nonsense. That's something, I guess.

[jonerik]

Still more:

Boston Phoenix

And here's Sadiki's press release, too:

Release of US Military rape photographs in Iraq!!!
Assignment Desk/City Desk:

The Black Community Information Center Inc. will hold a press conference on Tuesday, May 11th, 2004, 9:30 a.m. The purpose of the press conference is to release copies of dramatic photos of members of the US Military, gang raping innocent Iraqi women in Iraq.

The press conference will be held in the Curley Room at Boston City Hall (5th Floor) in downtown Boston, Massachusetts.

For more information, call [phone numbers deleted].

Sadiki Kambon
Director, BCIC Inc.