RollingStone Magazine is under a tremendous amount of pressure today after releasing a cover featuring the image of Boston Terror suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The image has been interpreted as offensive, tasteless and anti-American as it glorifies Tsarnaev. It’s a great honor to be on the cover of RollingStone and arguably it should not be given to terror suspects.
Massachussets Governor Deval Patrick said,
“I haven’t read it, but I understand the substance of the article is not objectionable, it’s apparently pretty good reporting, but the cover is out of taste, I think.”
Currently #BoycottRollingStone is trending on Twitter, while others are voicing much harsher opinions of the magazine than the reserved Governor Patrick.
RollingStone responded on their Facebook page saying,
“Our hearts go out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and our thoughts are always with them and their families. The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone’s long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day. The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens.”
One would assume they would understand that putting such a controversial figure in the midst of the current NSA / Edward Snowden scandal, wouldn’t stand well with their readership.
The RollingStone article alleges:
– Tsarnaev’s former wrestling coach might have had something to do with his decision to surrender after police surrounded the boat where he was hiding.
– Tsarnaev never spoke out about Sept. 11 but once let it slip that the attacks could be justified because of U.S. policies toward Muslim countries and U.S. drone strikes
Many are quick to judge based on the photo alone without ever reading the “serious and thoughtful” coverage of the issue. Serious and thoughtful coverage of course referring to investigative journalism which is largely dying (or already extinct) because of how the media industry is changing.
Instead of discussing the merits of their coverage, conversation will solely focus on the decision to put Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Was it wrong? Can it be justified?
That’s up for you to decide.
Quotes from Chicago Tribune.
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