University of Illinois Editor Fired Over 'Muhammad Cartoon' Incident

[Newsjock]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002158534

An editor who chose to publish caricatures of Prophet Muhammad in the University of Illinois' student-run newspaper last month has been fired, the paper's publisher announced Tuesday.

Acton H. Gorton was suspended, with pay, from The Daily Illini days after the Feb. 9 publication of the cartoons, which sparked Muslim protests around the world after they first appeared in a Danish newspaper.

... The paper's opinions page editor, Chuck Prochaska, also was suspended for his role in publishing the cartoons. He declined to be reinstated, the board said.

Gorton and Prochaska have said they decided to move quickly to publish the cartoons because they were newsworthy.

[Moloch]

1. Absolutely disgusting.

That we should have to sacrifice our freedom of the press to appease any religion.

[Hissyspit]

2. self-delete

[WildEyedLiberal]

4. He's still a student

Also, the Daily Illini is a completely independent newspaper. It is in no way affiliated with the University of Illinois.

[Hissyspit]

5. self-delete

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. As U of I student, let me provide some perspective

Apparently, Groton and Prochaska did not consult the rest of the editors before deciding to run the cartoons. That is the crux of their punishment, not that they chose to run the cartoons at all. The cartoons sparked a controversy on campus and a peaceful demonstration from a campus Muslim group, and many letters to the editor, including one letter from a Daily Illini cartoonist who had been suspended last year for publishing a "controversial" cartoon observing the irony that his cartoon was censored while the editors evidently had no problem publishing the Danish cartoons which they knew would spark Muslim outrage.

I have never actually read an op-ed by Groton - don't think he wrote any - but Prochaska is a right-wing lunatic. His column last year was a regular recitation of GOP talking points and mockery of liberals, and his self-professed hero is Ann Coulter. So I can't say I'm crying over Prochaska' decision to quit. Don't be fooled into feeling sorry for him; he's a Repuke blowhard who LIVES to create campus controversy, and that's the only reason he wanted the cartoons published.

[Hissyspit]

6. O.k. I've removed my posts.

The paper at the school where I teach is not independent, so I assumed.

[WildEyedLiberal]

7. It's ok, I wasn't offended by what you said

I also didn't see your posts before I made mine. Just wanted to offer the perspective of one who watched the whole drama unfold.

I agree with the DI board of directors decision to fire Groton, not because I object to the cartoons being published, but because they did buck the procedure requiring controversial op-eds to be voted on by the editorial staff. He and Prochaska wanted a controversy and they wanted to look like valiant defenders of free speech in the face of a liberal/PC onslaught, so my sympathy for them is nil. I could be biased after reading a year's worth of Prochaska's RW swill, however.

For the record I was one of the people strongly in favor of the paper's right to print the cartoons.