Newspapers across the country recognized the 11th anniversary of 9/11 on their front pages today. But The New York Times and the New York Post chose not to. Their decision raises the question: How will we know when it’s time to stop featuring 9/11 anniversary stories on the front page?
We’ll address this question in a live chat with New York Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan and longtime newspaper designer Charles Apple.
In a blog post about the Times’ decision, Sullivan acknowledged: “The pain, the outrage, the loss – these never fade. The amount of journalism, however, must.” She also talked about the need for news value, saying: “Often, other than the local events surrounding an anniversary, there isn’t always much to say that is original.”
Some readers have criticized and expressed disappointment in the decision, saying that the Times should have at least acknowledged the anniversary on its front page. Others have said it’s time to move past the annual A1 story. (See more reactions in the Storify below.)
During the chat, we talked about the Times’ decision and the reactions it has received. We also broadened the conversation to talk about the significance of the front page and the way newspapers nationwide handled today’s front page coverage of 9/11. You can replay the chat here:
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