The Silence of the Wolves

Gary Stock points us to Poynter.org where we can read this memo:

Panama City (FL) News Herald chief copy editor Ray Glenn’s memo re war coverage

Oct. 31, 2001

“…Per Hal’s order, DO NOT USE photos on Page 1A showing civilian
casualties from the U.S. war on Afghanistan. [Note: “Hal” is News
Herald executive editor Hal Foster.] Our sister paper in Fort Walton
Beach has done so and received hundreds and hundreds of threatening
e-mails and the like.

Also per Hal’s order, DO NOT USE wire stories which lead with civilian
casualties from the U.S. war on Afghanistan. They should be mentioned
further down in the story. If the story needs rewriting to play down
the civilian casualties, DO IT. The only exception is if the U.S. hits
an orphanage, school or similar facility and kills scores or hundreds of
children. See me if there are any special situations…”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it happens.

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