Perhaps you remember the cartoon shown above and our discussion; or, maybe you remember our critique of the Cavalier Daily when it published an article loosely based on Catholic pseudo-science that claimed having sex around a “natural planning cycle” is more effective than condoms. Let’s not forget the “tear down this wall” column which said the freedom wall was “nothing more than a cheap, interactive platitude.” And finally, take an opinion from the same publication about StreakTheLawn.com (now shut down) which explained that exposing seedier aspects of college life was a “risk” to UVA’s reputation.
Do you see a trend with the Cavalier Daily, University of Virginia’s “independent newspaper?” We do… and so do others.
The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression also saw a trend and recently awarded the Cavalier Daily’s 2007 Editing Staff a Muzzle Award. What is a Muzzle Award?
Since 1992, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has celebrated the birth and ideals of its namesake by calling attention to those who in the past year forgot or disregarded Mr. Jefferson’s admonition that freedom of speech ‘cannot be limited without being lost.’
Announced on or near April 13 — the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson — the Jefferson Muzzles are awarded as a means to draw national attention to abridgments of free speech and press and, at the same time, foster an appreciation for those tenets of the First Amendment.
The Cavalier Daily has some serious problems we are glad someone else pointed out. If our coverage of The University’s paper wasn’t enough, I hope this brings more attention to the issues surrounding what they publish. Now, with the Muzzle Award, the 2007 Edit Staff sits next to similar offenders such as FEMA and its fabrication of a press conference.
As a graduate of the University of Virginia, I have been offended many times by The Cavalier Daily due to their lack of editorial control, their misinformation and some of the ridiculous opinions they publish. You can read more about TJCPFE’s Muzzle Award here. My favorite excerpt:
A free press obviously has to include the right of editorial control over what to report and how it is reported. If Imus and Woolard had been fired because their expression was contrary to the editorial policies of their respective employers, no Muzzles would be awarded. But in both firings it appears clear that the actions were taken not because of the substance of the public’s reaction, but the amount of it. In other words, CBS Radio, MSNBC, and The Cavalier Daily’s regret about the incidents rose in proportion to how many people expressed criticism, not in proportion to how they actually assessed the merits of that criticism… A central value of the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of the press is to insure that the press need not fear reporting or commenting on the controversial issues of the day. As such, public controversy and criticism over press content is to be expected, if not the norm. When adverse public reaction is the primary factor in determining press content, one must question how “free” the press truly is. A democratic society needs a free press willing to stand up to public criticism.
I totally agree with this. Do you?
So, what has the Cavalier Daily said about this(remember, this is a different editorial staff)? Here they go:
We think that a comic appearing on the Comics page should be, at its most fundamental level, an attempt at humor….We can’t say whether a comic mocking religion would appear on the Comics page, because our decision about such a comic would depend entirely upon how the work was executed.
Of course we believe in and cherish our freedom to express ourselves — we print 10,000 copies of an independent college newspaper five days a week. But as editors, we need to decide the standard of what’s “fit to print” independent of a policy that ties our hands behind our backs. So long as personal belief or editorial bias isn’t at play, cutting content from the Comics page isn’t censorship — it’s editing. And that’s what we seek to do from here on out.
If you remove the hints of narcissism, you get a justification for an editorial process influenced by the same factors that won them the muzzle award. I wanted to end with a quote from Thomas Jefferson that summarizes this whole situation nicely. The passage is from an 1807 letter written to John Norvell:
Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle. The real extent of this state of misinformation is known only to those who are in situations to confront facts within their knowledge with the lies of the day.
And, with that, I ask, what is your opinion? Why does the University of Virginia, founded by one of the believers in freedom of speech, have a paper that routinely violates Mr. Jefferson’s ideals? Did The Cavalier Daily deserve the muzzle award? Did their editors justify pandering to the masses?
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Tagged as: Award, Charlottesville, debate, Free, Jefferson, Muzzle, press, Questions, Thomas, university, UVA, Virginia
Newspapers lie all the time, unlike the internet.
OH! A POWDERKEG!!
reading and interpretation are all about critical thinking. nobody’s take on “the facts” will ever be without bias; it will always carry with it wisps and strands of the author’s own opinions. nothing is gospel. read, distill the facts, and form your own opinions.
i am aware that i’m not really out on a limb here.
psst, parlie, your wisps and strands are showing.
I totally agree with the Cav Daily getting the Muzzle Award. I have been appalled by the rampant censorship that they have given into over the course of the past year.
People say things that I disagree with all the time (it’s called anyone that goes to church). That doesn’t mean I throw a shit fit and demand that the press (supposed to be “free”) align their views precisely with mine. What you may find sacreligious, I might find to be funny. To each his own ladies and gents. If you don’t like something, STOP consuming it. Let the market decide what is fit to print.
You know what I do when some lunatic knocks on my door trying to convert me? I politely say no thank you, close the door, and get on with my life. I don’t start some crusade to eliminate every Jehovah’s Witness within the city limits.
The Cav Daily seriously needs to grow some balls.
UVA is a Conservative Arts school. By devinition, they have no balls. Why should the paper be any different?
I love that the society giving out the award is Jefferson based.
And VT has no brains? OOO SNAP.
Watch it Thor…
Thor eats balls and brains.
Sorry, I actually meant watch it Thor…
Well, the great irony of Mr. Jefferson’s University is that almost everyone attending it would be a Federalist, not a Democratic-Republican. And unfortunately, almost everyone attending it would have no idea what I just said.
I don’t see what the big deal is with the Ethiopian Food Fight comic. Perhaps I am over-interpreting, but it seems to be a tongue and cheek socio-political commentary on the lack of food in Ethiopia. I don’t want to live in a world where comics and jokes are censored. Satire is the highest form of personal liberty. If you can’t make humorous commentary about a subject without fear of severe, sometimes life-threatening, repercussions then freedom is dead. If you don’t like a comic, don’t read it. That’s why I don’t read Boondocks. “Black people do this” and “white people do that” humor is very cliched. But I’m not going to point fingers and call it racist. America has been a disgrace.
I mean America has become a disgrace.
Why does the University of Virginia, founded by one of the believers in freedom of speech, have a paper that routinely violates Mr. Jefferson’s ideals?
I think that all major Universities (including UVa) are rampant with political correctness and, by extension, what amounts to censorship.
Every time America fucks up, it makes me glad that I kept my Canadian citizenship.
/see ya!
Oh no you di’int!
Oh, but I did.
Canada sucks.
america junior.
Oh, you’re just jealous.
/Terence & Phillip forever!
right back at ya echo:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8V7nhUGtJ_A&watch_response
I have been appalled by the rampant censorship that they have given into over the course of the past year.
NPR interviewed the director of the Jefferson Center (can’t find a link), and he said that, had the paper’s editors decided ahead of time that the comic(s) in-question were not worth publishing for whatever reason, that would’ve been fine. Indeed, he seemed to think that’s the course would’ve been most appropriate.
What earned them the award was running content and then failing to stand behind the provider of that content. Those editors should have let the shit flow uphill and taken responsibility for what was published. That’s what editors do, you know, edit.
Touché Thor. I’d be offended if I hadn’t graduated in the normal 4 years, from the engineering school.
@19: it’s true, we did have a glass blowing class.
you’re fired.
That is one witless comic.
the editors over at the CD apparently don’t know squat about basic astronomy either. today’s homepage features a picture of a “sweet sunset” over scott stadium. except, the picture is taken facing the eastern sky, meaning it’s actually a sunrise, not a sunset.
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/home.asp?pid=1718
UVA will never be VCU. = )