A regional daily has defended its decision to publish an image of this week’s Charlie Hebdo front cover after a newsagent on its patch began selling the magazine.
The Newport-based South Wales Argus says it would have been “disingenuous” not to show the controversial picture accompanying its story due to its “news value”.
This week’s edition of the satirical French magazine, which lost eight of its staff in last week’s Paris terrorist attacks, features a cartoon of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
Depictions of Muhammad are considered offensive in the Islamic faith and while some UK news organisations including The Guardian have opted to publish the cover, others have not.
The image as it appeared on the website of the Argus, with accompanying apology to readers who may be offended.
Explaining the decision in yesterday’s paper, deputy editor Nicole Garnon wrote: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly or without a great deal of thought and discussion.
“And its publication is not intended to cause gratuitous offence to any of our readers, particularly among the Muslim community, although we accept that it will be offensive to some people.
“We are aware of the many and heartfelt sensitivities surrounding the publication of this magazine. But we are printing the image on the basis of its news value.
“The image we are using was taken in a setting, a newspaper distributor’s warehouse, which illustrates the story it accompanies – that this magazine is going to be on sale in a Newport newsagents.”
The magazine will be stocked in Newport from this morning by newsagent Jon Powell.
The picture appears in the Argus and on its website with a caption apologising to readers who it may offend.
In a separate editorial on the issue of free speech, Argus editor Kevin Ward wrote: “To ban people from expressing their views just because we happen to find them disagreeable or offensive is the thin end of a particularly unpleasant wedge.
“Now more than ever, in the aftermath of Charlie Hebdo, we have to defend the right to freedom of speech within the law.
“There are many views expressed on our website and our letters page with which I disagree. But that does not mean they should not be published.
“Voltaire’s view (though not an actual quote) – ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’ – means more now than ever before.”
As reported on HTFP yesterday, The Northern Echo’s Peter Barron described his choice not to publish the picture as his “hardest decision” as an editor.
Nicole’s piece can be read here, while Kevin’s can be read here.
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Well done to the Argus. Papers need to reflect what is happening in the world about us and not be afraid to report it as it is. The Argus accepts that it will upset some people’s sensitivities – but doesn’t the media do that with every edition: that is part and parcel of free speech. I grew up being told “I might not agree with what you say but will defend your right to say it” and hope that ethos is not allowed to be washed away because some people shout loud enough or decide that violence is the solution.
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desperation for a local paper surely?
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Seems a bit unnecessary – the image was available in lots of other places, on the BBC, in The Times and Independent, on various web sites for readers who were interested. But of course I defend the right of the editor to edit.
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Give that man a medal and a round of applause for publishing the Charlie Hebdo front page, and for upholding the principles on which the media industry was founded. Just a reminder, Guys…the Press is meant to be “Frank, Fearless and Free!” Remember that one at all??? We are here to hold wrongdoers to account “Without Fear or Favour” or have we all forgotten that??? Violence is never the answer to anything. Sadly, some Journalists are so busy obsessing about and chasing the Digital Dime that they have forgotten and lost sight of what Journalism is REALLY all about! Let’s get back to those all important Core Journalistic Principles, and stop allowing yourselves to be distracted. “Publish and be damned!” Remember???
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As the No More Page 3 in The Sun Campaign gains momentum it will be interesting to see how many editors in the national and regional press defend Rupert Murdoch’s right to free speech and free expression by backing his exploitation of women and printing tits all over their front pages. I expect “Je suis Rupert” headlines to appear as a matter of principle.
And while we’re at it, seeing you’ve drawn our attention once again to Peter Barron and The Northern Echo, the world fully expects him to print NUJ rep comments next time his journalists walk out on strike and not misrepresent their arguments in the outrageous and thoroughly unprofessional manner he has done in the past. Free speech? You must be joking.
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Singularly unnecessary for a local paper, especially not as a full-page cover photo…but since there is no way, unless you’d been told (and we have, over & over again!) that you can tell that that is an image of the Prophet, as opposed to any imam from any Middle Eastern mosque, what’s all the fuss about?
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Well done, South Wales Argus. That’s the way to do it!
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Out there, who really cares?
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Maggie – one of my Core Journalistic Principles is not splashing around Unnecessary Capital Letters.
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Trying to get some free publicity….seems desperate
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But hat we really need to know is was it the hardest decision EVER?
http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2015/news/editor-makes-hardest-decision-over-charlie-hebdo/
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Well done the Argus, and a well argued case.
Peter Barron and the others have the slogan:
“Je suis Charlie, well, up to a point”.
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Well done the South Wales Argus and its Editor – The UK is the home of free speach, we do too much running scared of Islam. If only we had more MPs with the courage of Australia’s Kevin Rudd – “we want you to be happy here and successful but don’t try to change our way of life, we’ve been happy with it for more than 300 years.” Ken Jackson,lStafford
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A few points of clarification.
Contrary to at least one comment above, we did not publish the Charlie Hebdo cover on our front page. It was published on page 4 as a secondary 4×1 image to accompany a story about a Newport newsagent stocking the magazine.
We made no reference to it on our front page.
It was also published online as a secondary image, meaning you had to click on a thumbnail if you wished to see the full picture.
We are not seeking publicity. Other than a comment piece to explain our decision to readers – and despite a number of requests – we have made no comment to any other media organisation.
If there had been no local story, we would not have published the image.
It is important to note that we consulted our staff before taking the decision to publish. The vast majority were supportive of publication. Without that support, we would not have published the image.
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According to Google translate, it’s ‘je suis dans le train’…
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Free expression can be taught in secondary school. Responsibility is a tougher nut to crack.
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Well done, publishing the cartoons is a sound move in the interests of freedom.
If people get upset over the media publishing cartoons, they should not move to countries where this sort of thing happens, or used to happen.
Why should be bend our ways, our cultures and traditions, to new arrivals?
If you take the view that you need to look online to see certain cartoons, then, aren’t you making the printed press irrelevant?
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Well done the Argus. While the nationals cowered timorously in the corner, you got the job done.
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“As the No More Page 3 in The Sun Campaign gains momentum”
Just remind me, what chart position did the campaign’s Christmas record get to? The Wealdstone Raider got to number 5.
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I agree – it would have been ludicrous for the Argus to run a story about a local newsagent stocking the Charlie Hebdo magazine without showing readers the cover. We have a free press in this country – people had better get used to it.
(While I’m here, though, HTFP – I’m a bit mystified as to why my innocuous comment has been taken down from the related Northern Echo story.)
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Alen, you need to move on. You’re clearly bitter about your former employer but it’s boring mate. Stick to the story and don’t try and lead readers into something that’s irrelevant.
I think the Argus was wrong to publish the image. They risk offending some of their readers and the story doesn’t need the reproduction to work.
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They are cartoons. Can’t everyone just get over it?? I’d be more interested in a full investigation into halal meat; why this ritual slaughter is allowed in this country and why everyone seems to be having it foisted on them to suit Muslim sensibilities. If I strung up an animal and slit its throat without first stunning it, I would prosecuted for cruelty. Yet they can, in the name of religion.
I’m a veggie, by the way.
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Time to stand up and be counted. Well done the Argus team!
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Scribbler is right. It’s a similar story with their treatment of women.
At the East London mosque, there are separate entrances for men and women.
Oddly enough, London feminists have little to say about this outrage. They find themselves caught between their instinctive indignation as feminists and their ‘bleeding heart’ right-on liberalism, which refrains from criticising any ethnic minority.
As for offending readers, I find at least five or six stories in my daily paper every day that offend me deeply, but I regard the right to be offensive one of our freedoms.
If muslims dislike our press and sense of humour, they can catch a plane back home any day of the week. No problem.
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