Saturday, February 17, 2007
Newspaper vows closer scrutiny of ad content
The controversy about an advertisement in the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram that conjured up negative stereotypes of Jewish people will lead to greater vigilance by the newspaper and efforts throughout the community to improve sensitivity to such depictions.
That commitment follows a meeting Friday of newspaper executives, representatives of Maine's Jewish community and the creators of an advertisement that depicted a bearded "Fee Bandit," which resembled a Hasidic Jew, eager to take people's money. The ad was published Wednesday.
"We're convinced the placement of this ad was not a case of intentional anti-Semitism or bigotry," said Benjamin Marcus, of the Jewish Community Alliance, after learning how the ad was developed and presented to the newspaper. But Marcus, chairman of the alliance's community relations committee, said the image "perpetuates a hurtful and negative stereotype of Jews."
The alliance is working with the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence and the Anti-Defamation League's New England office to develop training around awareness of stereotypes that it will offer for the advertising industry as well as for the newspaper's advertising staff.
"It's an opportunity for education," said Steve Wessler, director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence. "When communities and institutions view it that way, there's the best chance to actually make progress."
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/070217ad.html
The controversy about an advertisement in the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram that conjured up negative stereotypes of Jewish people will lead to greater vigilance by the newspaper and efforts throughout the community to improve sensitivity to such depictions.
That commitment follows a meeting Friday of newspaper executives, representatives of Maine's Jewish community and the creators of an advertisement that depicted a bearded "Fee Bandit," which resembled a Hasidic Jew, eager to take people's money. The ad was published Wednesday.
"We're convinced the placement of this ad was not a case of intentional anti-Semitism or bigotry," said Benjamin Marcus, of the Jewish Community Alliance, after learning how the ad was developed and presented to the newspaper. But Marcus, chairman of the alliance's community relations committee, said the image "perpetuates a hurtful and negative stereotype of Jews."
The alliance is working with the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence and the Anti-Defamation League's New England office to develop training around awareness of stereotypes that it will offer for the advertising industry as well as for the newspaper's advertising staff.
"It's an opportunity for education," said Steve Wessler, director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence. "When communities and institutions view it that way, there's the best chance to actually make progress."
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/070217ad.html
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