The Editor of the The Austin American-Statesman has apologized for the Front Page Story that upset me and many other attendees of Netroots Nation 2008 at how we were portrayed, and especially upset the American-Statesman's readers in Austin.
Editor's note: Netroots Nation story
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Readers expect front-page stories to speak directly and clearly about events and issues. Eliminating the possibility of misunderstanding from our work is a critical part of our daily newsroom routine. When we communicate in a way that could be misinterpreted, we fail to meet our standards.
Our front-page story Sunday about the Netroots Nation convention included doses of irony and exaggeration. It made assertions (that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi might find herself at home politically in Beijing, for example) and characterizations ("marauding liberals" was one) meant to amuse. For many readers, we failed.
In trying for a humorous take on the Netroots phenomenon without labeling it something other than a straightforward news story, we compromised our standards.
— Fred Zipp, editor
My emphasis.
There was that pesky irony and exaggeration again waiting for me in my mail box when I returned home from Netroots Nation this afternoon in the form of the New Yorker with that notorious cover.
Update: Thanks for everybody for putting this on the Rec. list.