Santa Barbara News-Press apparently steps in it again

Remember the Santa Barbara News-Press, the paper that was in the news several years ago when most of the staff quit due to a lot of issues and provided a lot of fodder for discussion on this board. Well, looks like they're getting some attention again.

In the Christmas edition, a reporter's byline was changed from "Gonzalez" to "Gayzalez," and his title was changed to "News Press Faggoat." It'll be interesting to see what the fallout is here.

EDIT: Forgot to add the reporter was contacted and he said he did not submit the byline as is appeared in the paper.

Santa Barbara News-Press paper byline sparks controversy

 

You want to think it's one of those news desk jokes no one would think would get into print, but did ... but given the history you mentioned.

 

"This is beyond inappropriate! How does this get past the editor," wrote McKenna Robles.

Hahaha, fuckin' readers! WHAT EDITORS??!!

 

I know of one situation where a paginator changed the last name of an editorial staffer to an unflattering rhyme and it was in small print on a template that never changed, so there was no reason to look at it -- ie headlines, cutlines, etc. There were no repercussions because it was her last day.

 

Am I the only one wondering what a "faggoat" is?

 

A goat that Boots would like?

 

I've heard of/seen names changed in racing agate or an off-color comment added into a quote, something like that. A byline is pretty damn deliberate.

 

I'm way more lax than most people about ethics and rules and such in journalism, but typing "funny" fake shit with the intent to change it later is the *stupidest* thing and anyone who does it should be immediately scorned by all in their vicinity until they realize it's never funny and only a stupid risk for no payoff.

 

An unfortunate oversight by the copy editor allowing "Faggoat" to be misspelled like that.

 

I googled 'faggoat' out of curiosity, and it has an entry in the Urban Dictionary:

Urban Dictionary: faggoat

 

So the copy editor was trying to claim the author is both gay and the Greatest of All Time.

 

Is Wendy McCaw (sp) still the owner there?