Maine Paper Apologizes for 9/11 Ramadan Coverage
- Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:02pm by
Scott Baker
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PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – The publisher of a Maine newspaper has apologized for giving Page One coverage to the end of Ramadan on Sept. 11 without mention of the ninth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Saturday’s print edition of The Portland Press Herald featured a front-page photo of Muslims praying at the end of the Muslim holy month. It published coverage of events marking the anniversary of the terrorist attacks the next day.
Editor and publisher Richard Connor issued a front-page apology to readers who were offended.
Connor says the celebration by 3,000 Muslims at the Portland Expo warranted coverage. But he says the newspaper should have shown sensitivity “toward the painful memories stirred by the anniversary of 9/11.”
Blaze editor’s note:
This is the apology as posted on the paper’s website:
We made a news decision on Friday that offended many readers and we sincerely apologize for it.
Many saw Saturday’s front-page story and photo regarding the local observance of the end of Ramadan as offensive, particularly on the day, September 11, when our nation and the world were paying tribute to those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks nine years ago.
We have acknowledged that we erred by at least not offering balance to the story and its prominent position on the front page.
What you are reading today was the planned coverage of the 9/11 events. We believed that the day after the anniversary would be the appropriate occasion to provide extensive new coverage of the events and observances conducted locally and elsewhere.
In hindsight, it is clear that we should have handled this differently and with greater sensitivity toward the painful memories stirred by the anniversary of 9/11.
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Comments (109)
seebesee
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:51pmLook at the irony here; this pathetic little news papers editor is so intent on showing the Muslims what good boys and girls they are that they make Ramadan a page one story. The attackers of 911 where Muslims. I don’t want to say that all Muslims are terrorists; however it is true that most terrorists are Muslims. Before we so embrace this“ Religion of peace” we should really look into why it is that most terrorists are Muslims. We could do this between mid December and the end of December since Christmas is not a good thing to celebrate any more, we will have spare time to ponder upon such things. This news paper is a great bird cage liner and that is its highest and best use.
Report Post »Lori
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:50pmSounds like a case of “Better to apologize later than to act responsibly the first time.”
Report Post »CowwFace
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:44pmI’m so sorry for the families that lost loved ones on 9/11.
Imagine having to see this from your own countrymen on the anniversary of your Husband / Wife / Son / Daughter’s tragic murder.
What kind of American would do such a thing to another American … I don’t want to assign any motive to the editor… but I would like to think that he was not purposefully trying to hurt other Americans?
I hate to take a page out of the “progressive” playbook… but cancel subscriptions, and let the Advertisers know what you think about thier choice of media.
Carry on
Report Post »RobR
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:43pmI have a few front page suggestions for this ********, in keeping up with his total disrespect for real Americans…..you ought to report on Christmas in July and the Fourth of July somewhere around mid October………by the way, apology NOT accepted.
Report Post »handsoffmystuff
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:35pmAnd they’ll apologize for the same thing again next year.
Report Post »LC LaWedgie
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:33pmI’m not exactly sure how front-page coverage of both the remembrance of the lives lost in the WTC destruction and the end of Ramadan balances their reporting, but if that’s what they now envision as a face-plant moment, who am I to judge? Whack yourselves one time for me, too.
Report Post »Mainecon
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:32pmI also am a Mainiac, and no way would subscribe to that liberal rag.
It‘s sinking faster than the Obama’s ratings. I‘m only sad because a good friend of mine works in their printing room and he’ll be out of a job when that embarrassment folds.
Report Post »Anonimouse
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:31pmThe MSM is completely invested remaking America in their image – that is, as a socialist state.
Is there anyone left who actually thinks we may one day win them back?
Report Post »We’re on our own. The MSM is part of the problem – a major part.
Beachluver
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:30pmTotally Clueless…as most commie lib outlets are. Editor should be fired and more important…pleaseall subscribers CANCELL your paper
Report Post »zatwoodz
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:22pmI live in Maine. This is no surprise from this news paper.
Report Post »milig
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:17pmWonder how ling before they need to be bailed out.
Report Post »oldfox
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:14pmLiving in Maine all my life (70 years +), I gave up reading the PPH many, many years ago. This story show the reason why I made that choice. Pure liberal trash…
Report Post »A1955Rosie
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:11pmYou CAN’T UNRING A BELL. It’s become an explanation of stupidity and incompetence however the competent surely notice. I’d say if they were really apollogetice they might want to offer up to their readers A FAIR ASSESSMENT COVERAGE of the news from here on out. Otherwise it’s just a memorex of excuses for an agenda.
Report Post »ime
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:08pmHopefully they lost a boat load of sponsors. I’m of the belief they only apologize when it hits them in the wallet.
Report Post »Lainey
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:22pmHow pathetic it is that their initial initiative was to publish Muslim photos and articles ahead of 9/11. Just goes to show the priorities that these liberal papers have. Their apology means nothing because it would not have appeared if the public did not express their disgust.
Report Post »Republic
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:22pmGo ahead and make a mistake that you know is a mistake and you can always apologize later if someone calls BS on you. I think that is their thought process. Pretty soon they will be apologizing in advance.
Report Post »edward51
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:20pmI would never buy that paper again. 9/11 comes first over any other story that took place. apology not excepted. Portland Press Herald shoud be ashamed of yourself. Managing editor should be fired
Report Post »ConstitutionalPatriot
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 2:27pmThat’s no the whole of it. I was at a school sporting event in Naples Maine on Saturday the 11th of September to see all the flags, three of them, at full mast. They should have been at half mast in remembrance and honor as they were when a Virginia Senator past.
Report Post »GraceSullivan
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:18pmTrue, they apoligized however they showed where their heart laid. I would cancel my subscription.
Report Post »Zoe
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:15pmZactly-
I think Zig Zigler puts it ” We were looking for someone who didn’t do it in the first place”
Paraphrase liberty Taken!
Report Post »Sick twisted Freak
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:20pmExactly
Report Post »TomBurpee
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:18pmWell, Portland really isn’t part of Maine. Most of us consider it to be Northern Massachusetts, we’re even fielding the idea of splitting the state in half. LOL!
Wow do I ever loath this State.
Thankfully, I cancelled my subscription to the PPH back in 2008. Now TheBlaze is where I get my news! <–Shameless plug.
Report Post »Mainecon
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:27pmTomburpee,
Agree. Portland has some good. It’s a beutiful city and the Seadogs are fun, but what an embarrassment the Press Herald is. Having said that, however, our central ME papers aren’t much better.
I get my news elsewhere.
Report Post »TomBurpee
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 2:21pm@MAINECON
The only thing useful was the Republican Journal, Bangor Daily is awful. Even the Houlton Pioneer is getting a bit of a spin to it. Oh well, hence is why I’m here on TheBlaze.
Report Post »mfaith24
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 2:23pmThat is how it is in New York, the city is so disconnected from the rest of the state. There have also been proposals to split the state in two. It drives me nuts, so I now go to school in Texas, its a little better.
Report Post »TomBurpee
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 2:52pm@MFAITH24
Amen brother,
My fiance and I want to relocate to Texas. The last bastion of Truth, Justice, and the American way!
I’ve lived in Maine all of my life, originated from Aroostook County, up in Houlton. (*Shudder*) I’ve spent the better part of 13 years trying to get out of this God-forsaken hell hole called Maine.
You don’t live here, you get by here, you manage here, you survive here. For a state connected to the rest of the Union is astonishes me how far behind everyone else this place is. It’s like all information hits the Twilight Zone at the eastern border of New Hampshire, and the northern border of Massachusetts.
Welfare is out of control, the education system is a joke, emergency services do all they can to save your cellar, and yet they tout this place as Vacation Land; or my favorite “The Way Life Should Be”. Which, I think I vomited blood when I heard. Mid-Coast Maine has become a drug haven, crime is on the rise.. “Oh but it’s such a safe place to live.” Yeah, maybe if you live here during the two months of summer we have.
(*Sigh*)
Hopefully LaPage, Thibodeau, Deveau, and other Conservatives will be able to straighten us out a little. I don‘t see where it’s going to be over-night, it took several decades to ram this State into the ground, it’ll take twice as long to pull it from the dregs it has sunken to.
What do you think?
Report Post »ItsMeTyler
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:16pmAnother news source bites the dust….
Report Post »rmcelroy
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:11pmIf a plane that was hijacked and was floan into the Portland Expo center and killed over 3000 muslims on that day would be the only reason to warant a Page One article.
Report Post »zatwoodz
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:25pmYou would think That they would have remembered 9/11 The first plane that crashed into the World trade center came from Portland!
Report Post »mrdbcooper
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:36pmmore victory celebrations…wake up!
Report Post »robtracy
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:10pmSo these buffoons make probably a calculated decision to show how tolerant and progressive they are and totally omit any reference to the 9th anniversary of 9/11 on 9-11. What the should have done (my opinion) is draw the two events together and try to highlight why the two may not be paradoxically different. But hey I’m no fancy east coast paper editor.
Report Post »JamesTurner
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:08pmI guess common sense didn’t prevail at first.
Report Post »Phil D
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 9:46pmSad to say common sense took second place to the liberal view.
Report Post »rmcelroy
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:08pmIdiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 2:44pmWhat the heck man???? Liberals are really are Anti-American.
Report Post »JayCee
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 8:12pmWhy newspapers are becoming extinct.
Report Post »Debrabate
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 12:06pmat least they apologized. more than some news agencies would have done.
Report Post »VegasGuy
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:30pmThey can apologize all they want. It cannot make up for what is in their hearts. Their hearts are devoid of any compassion of the victims of 911 and honoring their memory.
Report Post »poppopschell
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:37pmForgiveness for other’s mistakes is the Christian way. Thank you Editor. The issue now is whether this editor will continue to be insenitive. If he does, one can THEN question his sincerety.
Report Post »deanbob
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 2:13pmpoppopschell……I agree.
Report Post »ConstitutionalPatriot
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 2:24pmNo, I’m from Maine, the Portland Press is socialist. This would seem purposely done. The PP has done things like this over and over.
Report Post »southlan
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 3:49pmthis is typical of the dbagger MSM isn’t it? Day late and a dollar short!
Report Post »FoundersKeeperUSA
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 7:12pmThats something you cant just apologize for and expect the american people to just stand for it.The fact that that paper ran a story on muslims instead of 9/11 does not come as a surprise to me.There are liberals/Progresives in our country who im really starting to consider un-american.They really just hate there own country.And they hate anybody who loves the USA and wants to keep it the way our founding fathers wanted it to be.
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 9:20pmNothing Like maintaining the lefts MO– do whatever the hell you want, say/print whatever you want, then make it all better with a retraction when all hell breaks loose about your position!!! This mentality has to stop, and the way to stop it is to PUT YOUR BOOT ON THE NECK OF THESE ABUSERS and Do NOT accept thier pre-determined apologies!!! WAke UP PEOPLE!! Quit being Bamboozled by these Lying sacks of CRAP!!! they know what they are doing and are not the least bit rermorseful!!! the end Justifies the means!! Its Alinsky!! Bottom line is Portland Press herald Printed what they wanted, Omiited what they HAte, and letting them off the hook for poor decision making is unacceptable!!! A firing of the editor is what I am Expecting!! but wont get it
Report Post »Patrick in Portland, Maine
smartypoop
Posted on September 13, 2010 at 10:34pmIm so glad they are doing their part to promote racial harmony and tollerance. Too darn bad that they cant show the same acknowledgement and respect to a grieving nation and the families that were affected by the murders on 9-11. Iceholes!
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