Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Statement On This Week's Cover Image
We're sorry. WE MESSED UP. BIG TIME.
Here’s the deal: Our most recent cover has generated a lot of anger and concern. We wanted to share an explanation of why we published the cover and also our respect for and acknowledgement of the anger it has caused.
As what is usually considered "Savannah's liberal paper," we assure you no racism or sexism was intended. The cover is based on the often-parodied, iconic painting by Norman Rockwell called "Freedom From Want" (see image). The image depicts an all-American family. The woman holding the turkey in the original painting is not a servant, but the respected head of the household.
Our intent was to depict all the candidates in the runoff as one big happy family who squabble with each other but in the end work together. In the planning process we believed the homage to the Rockwell paint ing to be a solid visual representation of bringing all candidates together in a comical fashion for the holiday.
However we clearly miscalculated that Mayor Jackson might be interpreted as a servant or in an inferior position. The effect was far from what we hoped to achieve.
We misjudged the humor aspects, badly. We apologize without reservations for the anger and pain we've caused and the harm we have done to a community trying hard to come together.
This cover concept clearly was not adequately thought through. It's something we now recognize and take responsibility for.
We promise to do better, much better, in the future and regard this as a teachable moment for our staff and the paper.
Connect Savannah exists to unite and inform Savannahians of all walks of life. Obviously in this case, we failed in that mission.
Let us be clear: Mayor Jackson is a talented public administrator of the City of Savannah, who's dedicated her life and career to doing the best for our city and to the cause of Civil Rights. While there will always be people who disagree with any public official, none of that diminishes the fact that Mayor Jackson is a smart, dedicated woman who has, through her own hard work, risen to a notable and respectable position in our city. WE SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO MAYOR EDNA JACKSON FOR ANY SLIGHT WE HAVE CAST ON HER PROFESSIONALISM AND HER CAREER, AND ON HER PERSONALLY.
Here’s the deal: Our most recent cover has generated a lot of anger and concern. We wanted to share an explanation of why we published the cover and also our respect for and acknowledgement of the anger it has caused.
As what is usually considered "Savannah's liberal paper," we assure you no racism or sexism was intended. The cover is based on the often-parodied, iconic painting by Norman Rockwell called "Freedom From Want" (see image). The image depicts an all-American family. The woman holding the turkey in the original painting is not a servant, but the respected head of the household.
Our intent was to depict all the candidates in the runoff as one big happy family who squabble with each other but in the end work together. In the planning process we believed the homage to the Rockwell paint ing to be a solid visual representation of bringing all candidates together in a comical fashion for the holiday.
However we clearly miscalculated that Mayor Jackson might be interpreted as a servant or in an inferior position. The effect was far from what we hoped to achieve.
We misjudged the humor aspects, badly. We apologize without reservations for the anger and pain we've caused and the harm we have done to a community trying hard to come together.
This cover concept clearly was not adequately thought through. It's something we now recognize and take responsibility for.
We promise to do better, much better, in the future and regard this as a teachable moment for our staff and the paper.
Connect Savannah exists to unite and inform Savannahians of all walks of life. Obviously in this case, we failed in that mission.
Let us be clear: Mayor Jackson is a talented public administrator of the City of Savannah, who's dedicated her life and career to doing the best for our city and to the cause of Civil Rights. While there will always be people who disagree with any public official, none of that diminishes the fact that Mayor Jackson is a smart, dedicated woman who has, through her own hard work, risen to a notable and respectable position in our city. WE SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO MAYOR EDNA JACKSON FOR ANY SLIGHT WE HAVE CAST ON HER PROFESSIONALISM AND HER CAREER, AND ON HER PERSONALLY.
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