In his latest post as public editor of the New York Times, Arthur Brisbane examines the value of an apology by one of the newsroom's columnists.
Last week Joe Nocera, relatively new as a columnist, wrote a spirited and sharply worded column on the Tea Party; when readers complained he had violated his own principled stand for civility, Nocera agreed and apologized.
Brisbane reflects on the "age of vitriol" now commanding media space and wonders where there are boundaries. He found people who were confounded by Nocera's move, but he concludes that it set a standard for his work in the future --- and with it, the work of the Times. All in all, he says, it was a good thing to do.
Last week Joe Nocera, relatively new as a columnist, wrote a spirited and sharply worded column on the Tea Party; when readers complained he had violated his own principled stand for civility, Nocera agreed and apologized.
Brisbane reflects on the "age of vitriol" now commanding media space and wonders where there are boundaries. He found people who were confounded by Nocera's move, but he concludes that it set a standard for his work in the future --- and with it, the work of the Times. All in all, he says, it was a good thing to do.
