NYDN cover on San Bernadino

The cover IS agenda-driven. There's really no denying it. That's why it's technically not "journalism."

The agenda is to try to shame people into gun control. As such, who else would you call out but the presidential candidates of a party that doesn't support gun control?

As activism, it's pretty effective. As "journalism," not so much.

 

Jay, the interesting thing about the NYP cover is here's the cover of today's NYP I saw a minute ago on Newseum:
New York Post | Today's Front Pages | Newseum

 

I'm not religious and I find it a challenge to convey condolences to friends/acquaintances who suffer losses like this. The challenge is to NOT say/write "my thoughts and prayers ...." (You can see it dozens of times on Facebook for every pet death, let alone family members). That is a mindless comment, at or near the top of the cliche list.
So, although I really don't like the idea of the NYDN cover, that aspect of ridiculing mindless politicians is pretty damn good.

 

Well, yes. But as already noted, it cheapens the point.

 

In a couple of ways, I agree with the NYDN cover. For one, as has been discussed here previously, posting on Twitter and/or creating a hashtag after a tragedy is pretty superficial.
Second, God isn't fixing this? Well, more and more we as a country are telling God we don't need Him or those ways are just out of style/too old fashioned. More and more crap like this is happening. I'd say there is a pretty strong correlation. JMO

 

Yeah, things would be just fine if the gays stopped wanting to be married.

 

It's not the road I would taken, but if you want to go down this path, don't stop here; stay on your elected officials and plaster their mugs on the front page every time they cast a vote that goes against what's right and decent.

 

I think it would be effective if it didn't appear to blatantly single out one group and also if it didn't attack religious Americans. Prayers and action aren't mutually exclusive.

The point made about saying TWITTER won't fix this is also excellent.

 

Indeed, once the NYP folks heard the Muslim sounding name, they changed the cover to reflect that.

I also thought that was quite interesting.

 

I've heard both sides -- why the NYDN should be "applauded" and why they should be "ashamed." I'm 50/50 on it. Definitely a brave headline.

 

Loved the cover and the guts behind the decision to frame it that way. The argument wasn't perfectly executed (as many have pointed out), but what argument is?

Is it "journalism"? I won't debate that, but I will say that newspapers have lost relevance compared with the days when they weren't afraid to outrage people. Outraging people shouldn't be the No. 1 mission, but there are times when the public (and politicians) needs to be moved to outrage.