Erin KissaneFeb 16, 2023

It looks like the NYT has issued an internal statement that they will not "tolerate" staff complaints about their anti-trans coverage—which they insist is just fine.

(Letter sourcing: https://twitter.com/maxwelltani/status/1626324277422133253)

The NYT falsely claims that GLAAD, which also protested their coverage, delivered the letter from Times writers—and that those writers are therefore supporting GLAAD's advocacy.

https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/02/new-york-times-contributors-glaad-and-many-others-criticize-times-coverage-of-trans-people/

(Alt-text is too long, will post the rest separately.)

Max Tani on Twitter

“Memo from Joe Kahn to NYT staff responding to yesterday's letter re: trans coverage. Times leadership says the paper "will not tolerate, participation by Times journalists in protests organized by advocacy groups or attacks on colleagues on social media and other public forums."”

Twitter
Show threadErin Kissane

Image again with second half of alt text. (Letter wasn't only staff—also contributors, readers, subscribers—me among them.)

HT to @m_scribe for the letter and note about signatories

Feb 16, 2023 at 11:08pmWeb
Show threadErin KissaneFeb 16, 2023

Between Pamela Paul stating in the NYT today that nope, you're wrong, none of the things JKR has ever said were transphobic and this memo, which equally flatly states that none of the detailed concerns presented by trans and queer NYT staff and their allies are remotely valid, this is quite a day for the Times.

Also implied: The staff concerns are invalid bc not delivered through the right channels or with proper respect. News orgs treat public dissension like the Real Crime.

Show threadJimboFeb 16, 2023
@kissane So nice of the Times to produce exhibits for the inevitable discrimination suits. Proving intent is usually the hardest part.
Show threadScott PurdyFeb 16, 2023
@kissane I’m helping plan and lead a work event about gender-affirming care for trans youth. One of the staff we proposed the event to said, genuinely trying to help, that they had read a NYT article we might want to include in the read-ahead. I didn’t want to say without double-checking “Yeah, the trans community hates that Emily Bazelon article,” but now I’m expecting to have to explain in the event that The Times (and The Atlantic) are really bad on this issue.
Show threadErin KissaneFeb 17, 2023
@scottpurdy It would be so nice to be able to talk about, like, bone density supplementation and protection from abusive families instead of all of this
Show threadScott PurdyFeb 17, 2023
@kissane Thankfully, the woman I’m organizing this with is good at this (my original proposal was focused on the Boston Children’s Hospital bomb threats, which, what would the discussion have even been? Bomb threats are bad.), so those are the types of things the pre-read we’re giving people focuses on. I just know some of the discussion will be “I read this other article…” and I’ll have to politely explain why it was bad journalism.
Show threadScott PurdyFeb 16, 2023
@kissane Also getting caught out removing the “trans” from the headline of Jamelle Bouie’s pro-trans column.
Show threadMolly TimminsFeb 16, 2023
@kissane @m_scribe Defending JK Rowling is serious and essential work?
Show threadMelody SchreiberFeb 16, 2023
@waiting4twyla @kissane it was done through the proper channels (getting full editorial approval ahead of time)
Show threadBrittle Anxious Nonlinear IncoFeb 16, 2023
@kissane @m_scribe lack of self awareness level: extreme