April 25, 2011

Slate
Times ombudsman Arthur Brisbane says he understands why some readers don’t like it when the paper “slips a shiv” into other newspapers.

It’s unseemly and makes The Times, which is viewed as journalism’s top dog, look like a bully. It’s clear, as well, that some readers expect The Times to apply the same laser-like focus to itself, which doesn’t seem to happen much.

Jack Shafer has a problem with that.

What would Brisbane prefer? That the Times view the Murdoch papers’ conduct, the Gannett pay packages, and the frat-boy shenanigans at Tribune from the perspective of a guidance counselor? That the Times pussyfoot while composing its stories? Give me the bully treatment any day—even though I don’t think any of the pieces cited by Brisbane comes remotely close to bullying.

The Times executive editor’s wife is promoting Shafer’s piece. Emma Keller tweets:

Prob shdn’t RT this but what the hey. RT @Slate: RT @jackshafer: How stupid is the Times’ @thepubliceditor? http://slate.me/hTOHqC

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From 1999 to 2011, Jim Romenesko maintained the Romenesko page for the Poynter Institute, a Florida-based non-profit school for journalists. Poynter hired him in August…
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