troisreinesFeb 17, 2023
Dan Froomkin/presswatchers.org
Who changed this headline? And why? New York Times readers deserve answers. (And my DMs are open)
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RT @froomkin
Revelatory catch by @ParkerMolloy: https://open.substack.com/pub/presentage/p/why-i-signed-the-nyt-letter-and-you?r=cfko&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://twitter.com/froomkin/status/1625986858919383040
Why I Signed the NYT Letter (And You Should, Too)

If you care about journalism, if you care about fairness, and you care about the truth, it should matter to you that "the paper of record" is constantly lying about trans people.

The Present Age
Feb 16, 2023 at 5:13pmWeb
Show threadCharles HeroldFeb 16, 2023
@froomkin The Times changes its op-ed editorials all the time. Sometimes it makes them better and sometimes worse, but my assumption has been that they're trying to find a headline that generates clicks.
Show threadSamuel BepisFeb 16, 2023
@cherold @froomkin They didn't have a problem with mentioning trans people in the headlines of any of the negative coverage they've been publishing lately. Even if this decision is purely motivated by what's going to generate clicks and look good for advertisers, it's going to have serious consequences for trans people in real life.
Show threadCharles HeroldFeb 16, 2023
@SamuelBepis @froomkin They don't always mention trans people in the headlines of anti-trans columns. Almost everything Pamela Paul is at least in part an anti-trans attack but often you can't tell that from the title.
Show threadSamuel BepisFeb 16, 2023
@cherold @froomkin And their article on puberty blockers was titled "Puberty Blockers Can Help Transgender Youth. Is There a Cost?".The headline and article make it sound like drs are ignoring or covering up some awful side effects. This isn't true, but the NYT coverage gives legitimacy to the bills in several states that ban puberty blockers for trans kids.
Show threadSamuel BepisFeb 16, 2023

@froomkin Read the open letter to the New York Times if you haven't already. https://nytletter.com

Their coverage of trans-related issues is (unfavorably) compared to their past coverage of the gay rights movement and AIDS crisis, and I think it's a fair comparison.

NYT Contributors’ Letter

Show threadSamuel BepisFeb 16, 2023
@cherold The important thing to remember is that bigotry isn't about what someone's intent is or what words they use or don't use. It's about the political goals that someone is helping or hindering with their actions. NYT is uncritically publishing anti-trans talking points without providing appropriate context. Regardless of the reason, that means they're participating in transphobia.
Show threadCharles HeroldFeb 16, 2023
@SamuelBepis The Times is absolutely promoting transphobic content. But that doesn't mean that every action they take is part of that agenda. I just think when you start pointing out fairly common Times practices like changing headlines as though they are part of that then you're making weak arguments when there are so many strong arguments like the hiring of Pamela Paul to talk about. Arguments that are easily refuted weaken the overall case.
Show threadSamuel BepisFeb 16, 2023
@cherold I don't think anyone's using the headline change by itself as their sole piece of evidence that the NYT is doing transphobia. It's getting attention because it happened in the context of these other things.
Show threadSamuel BepisFeb 16, 2023
@cherold which is to say, this argument only *seems* weak if someone is uninformed about the context it's happening in. Of course there are even better arguments to be made - and if we want to be good allies then I think our efforts would be better spent making those arguments, rather than explaining to trans people that something they're saying is transphobic might actually not be.
Show threadantipode77Feb 17, 2023

@cherold @froomkin

Maybe time for this kind of stuff.

It reports modified headlines in German language newspapers.

http://visual.gnutiez.de:8082/hl_diff.html?jump=https://www.focus.de/panorama/welt/rund-40-wuetende-personen-gewalttaetiger-angriff-auf-einsatzkraefte-der-polizei-in-trier_id_186042049.html

@gnutiez

Show threadmattFeb 16, 2023
@froomkin Cowards…. Cowards changed the headline.
Show threadDarwin WoodkaFeb 16, 2023
@froomkin wow, that's really bad
Show threadSean BalaFeb 16, 2023
@froomkin I notice that they sometimes change podcast titles randomly in the same way. I am assuming they wanted more eyeballs on what is a very good op-ed. I sometimes wonder if the chattering classes think that trans issues are "niche" like gay issues might have been in the 1980s / 90s. People see the original headline and think that something about trans issues is only for those who care. Of course, the essay's whole point is that everyone should care!
Show threadJRFeb 16, 2023
@froomkin Dignity is no longer a cultural norm.
Show threadKevin Karhan Feb 16, 2023
@froomkin I guess #NYTImes is now a reactionary cesspool, too!
Show threadBookaroo NogalesFeb 16, 2023
@froomkin Link doesn't seem to work.