Michael Goodwin: Radical Left Turns on Woke New York Times
Top editors at The New York Times are under attack from transgender radicals both inside and outside of the paper. Face a problem It is so hard, I feel sorry. Well, almost.
Because editors are responsible for this hesitation, it is only fair. They are now realizing that it is impossible to appease the far left after abandoning fairness standards in order to push their crazy woke agenda.
Common sense is a crash course that teaches us the truth about radicalism. They don’t ask for, they demand, and they make threats.
How come the Gray Lady didn’t see this coming?
Last week, thousands of celebrities, activists, and supporters, which include staff writers and occasional contributors to the paper, heatedly criticized its coverage. In a letter, they claimed that there was a pattern to the paper’s coverage. “editorial bias in the newspaper’s reporting on transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people.”
The paper was accused of publishing a second letter by more than 100 groups including GLAAD (the Human Rights Campaign) and GLAAD (the GLAAD). “fringe theories” “dangerous inaccuracies.”
NBC reported, “A billboard truck drove.” Around the paper’s headquarters, with messages such: “Dear New York Times: Stop questioning trans people’s right to exist & access medical care.”
The allegations appear absurd at first glance. The paper’s coverage on transgenders feels like it belongs in a cult. Exhibit A was a November profile in gush. This headline is below: “For Ghana’s Only Openly Transgender Musician, Every Day Is Dangerous.”
This is all there is to it, folks.
What if that’s not woke enough? Too much is never enough for activists. Fair coverage is what they desire to give legitimacy to their views. In their absoluteist world, only one view is acceptable: theirs.
And so the mob is coming for the Times because the editors had the gall to publish less-than-cheerleading articles about gender surgeries on minors and other issues. An op-ed defending author J.K. RowlingPublic Enemy No. TransWorld, 1 made heads explode.
Even though the ridiculousness of the attacks (including the demand that the Times hire four transgender journalists within three months), the stakes for media outlets around the world are high. The Times’ prominence means that other newsrooms will be under pressure to support independent journalism and will eventually surrender.
Some do. Take NBC. The Times added an editor’s comment at the end to its article. “The writer of this article is a member of the Trans Journalists Association, one of the supporting signatories on the open letter penned by former and current Times contributors.”
It used to be called conflict of interest. The writer would not be allowed to cover the story. It’s now disclosed as though it removes any bias.
Racial grievance
The Times faces an identical standard test with black employees. The union head representing the newsroom workers still calls the paper a racist bastion, despite the fact that it used a virtual quota system over the years to hire non-white journalists.
Susan DeCarava stated that no black employee was included in a strike to end stalled contract negotiations. 1619 Project guru Nikole Hannah-JonesManagers have given her the highest possible rating. Fox News reported that this proves that the review process was fair. “is weighted against people of color.”
There are some reasons to be hopeful on the transgender side. Top newsroom editor Joe Kahn defended the coverage, while Kathleen Kingsbury, opinion editor, blasted employees and contributors for joining the frenzy.
“Participation in such a campaign is against the letter and spirit of our ethics policy,” They wrote the following in an email to staff that was obtained by The Post: “We do not welcome, and will not tolerate, participation by Times journalists in protests organized by advocacy groups or attacks on colleagues on social media and other public forums.”
DeCarava, the guild leader, quickly reacted with a tough response. She wrote to employees claiming that they have the right to protest the coverage. “threaten, restrain or coerce employees from engaging in such activity.”
Although it sounds like this is an exaggeration of worker rights in private companies, it increases the pressure on management. But the truth is that employees who participate in political or social movements will not be punished if they are not punished.
However, if the participants are punished, editors will likely face a greater staff revolt and possibly be subject to subscription cancellations from far-left readers.
Recent history has shown that editors at The Times are at the mercy and will of their staff. After publishing a piece by Senator Tom Cotton in 2020, James Bennet, a respected editor of op-eds was fired by the publisher. It called for the military to end urban riots.
Newsroom activists condemned the article. A.G. Sulzberger is the publisherAfter initially backing Bennet’s decision to move forward, Bennet buckled and Bennet took the plank.
The acclaimed science writer Donald McNeil was also fired in 2021 after 150 of his colleagues signed an angry note when they found out that he had been lightly disciplined two years ago for using the N word in a conversation involving teenagers. McNeil says that Dean Baquet was the former editor and said McNeil was not racist. However, he forced McNeil out by saying, “Donald, you’ve lost the newsroom. People are hurt.”
This is how things used to be
In another time, Times editors had control of the newsroom and not let it run it. A.M. Rosenthal, the legendary editor, would listen to all kinds of criticisms, including those from big advertisers. He would then tell them to get on with their lives because the paper could not be bought or managed.
He famously stated that his job was to be a teacher. “to keep the paper straight” Instead of allowing reporters’ coverage to shift to the left, This passion was written on the gravestone.
Rosenthal wouldn’t hesitate to issue pink slips to the staffers or contributors who publicly attacked their colleagues because of the paper’s transgender coverage.
In fact, he held a firm and clear view of conflicts. He fired a female reporter who had been having an affair with and was given expensive gifts by a politician that she covered. She was working for another newspaper at the time, but it became public shortly after she joined The Times. Rosenthal asked her whether the report was true. She said yes, and told her to clear her desk so she would never return.
Rosenthal broke the silence to tell his legendary rule:
“You can screw elephants if you want to, but then you can’t cover the circus.”
Ah, the days.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
