Rolling Stone magazine is being bombarded by criticism for its cover treatment and photograph of Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The article, by contributing editor Janet Reitman, is called “The Bomber: How a popular, promising student was failed by his family, fell into radical Islam and became a monster.” The feature includes interviews with childhood and college friends, teachers, neighbors and police officers. Readers, especially from Boston, bashed the magazine on its Facebook page, claiming that the cover page is turning a terrorist into a “rock star.”
CVS pharmacy, Walgreens and Massachusetts-based Tedeschi convenience stores all said that they are refusing to sell copies of the magazine. Tedeschi Food Shops wrote on its Facebook page that “it cannot support actions that serve to glorify the evil actions of anyone. Music and terrorism don’t mix.” The Woonsocket, R.I-based chain CVS wrote on its Facebook page: “As a company with deep roots in New England and a strong presence in Boston, we believe this is the right decision out of respect for the victims of the attack and their loved ones.”
Some of the reader comments on Rolling Stone Facebook page wrote:
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UPDATE:
Graphic Photos of Tsarnaev Capture Released -Ravi Somaiya
A Massachusetts State Police sergeant was relieved of duty Thursday after supplying Boston Magazine with graphic images from the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the editor of the magazine said.
Mr. Murphy told the magazine that he decided to release his images — which show a bloodied and surrendering Mr. Tsarnaev — after feeling angered by this month’s cover of Rolling Stone magazine, which featured a softer portrait of Mr. Tsarnaev.
CVS pharmacy, Walgreens and Massachusetts-based Tedeschi convenience stores all said that they are refusing to sell copies of the magazine. Tedeschi Food Shops wrote on its Facebook page that “it cannot support actions that serve to glorify the evil actions of anyone. Music and terrorism don’t mix.” The Woonsocket, R.I-based chain CVS wrote on its Facebook page: “As a company with deep roots in New England and a strong presence in Boston, we believe this is the right decision out of respect for the victims of the attack and their loved ones.”
Some of the reader comments on Rolling Stone Facebook page wrote:
“Jeff Bauman, who lost both legs, should be on the cover.”
“The best example of why Facebook needs a dislike button.”
“I am so disappointed with Rolling Stone magazine. I have enjoyed your magazine until now. I will no longer buy/read the mag. You have just made him a ‘rock star.’ How could you?”[Aish.com]
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UPDATE:
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| A bloodied Tsarnaev emerges from the boat he was hiding in |
Graphic Photos of Tsarnaev Capture Released -Ravi Somaiya
A Massachusetts State Police sergeant was relieved of duty Thursday after supplying Boston Magazine with graphic images from the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the editor of the magazine said.
Mr. Murphy told the magazine that he decided to release his images — which show a bloodied and surrendering Mr. Tsarnaev — after feeling angered by this month’s cover of Rolling Stone magazine, which featured a softer portrait of Mr. Tsarnaev.
In a statement he accused Rolling Stone of “glamorizing the face of terror” and providing an incentive to others who might seek fame through similar acts. “This is the real Boston bomber,” he said of the Mr. Tsarnaev depicted in his images. “Not someone fluffed and buffed for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.”
[New York Times]
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3 comments:
Sadly there are no right answers in such a controversial issue. The Rolling Stone cover story was a reasonable one. Their problem is they're Rolling Stone. if a different news only magazine had put him on the cover with that story I doubt it would have stirred so much anger. They chose a decent picture of him because of the angle they chose to cover. The victim deserve their say in the press and those photos released by the police photog also were very apropos. Nothing would have made everyone happy and if enough people were unhappy then Rolling Stone's sales of that issue will help guide it to different judgment next time. Possibly even with all those venues refusing to carry it that issue might have sold well. The premise of the article, if it were fully answered, was an interesting take on the situation.
I cannot agree that the cover was reasonable. It very much reminds me of the June 2012 incident where the Associated Press came up with sexy terrorist photos. See:
http://brucesmideastsoundbites.blogspot.com/2012/06/associated-press-promotes-sexy.html
Outrageous: AP turns terrorists into "art"
It's bad enough that wire services stage photos and pretend that they are news. But this takes it to another level - it is at attempt to elevate terrorism into art under the thin guise that it is news. It is romanticizing terror.
AP is a disgusting organization.
[Elder of Ziyon]
I looked into that story and photographer you mention. He is an Israeli that wanted to show a different take on a topic he covered regularly. He won a Pulitzer for covering a lone Israeli settler against the Israeli military. I do not think anything will glamourize terrorism. Certainly there was nothing glamorous about the stone thrower photos. As for the Boston bomber, young girls were already sending him supportive tweets. It means nothing. I stand by the assertion that the cover STORY of Rolling Stone was reasonable. Their choice of picture--regrettable. We should not fear viewing a situation from a different angle. The days of George W. Bush saying "You're either with us or against us." are long gone. The world is not black and white and we need not fear these portrayals, which in neither case, by the way, glamorized or supported these terrorists. They just tried to look at things from a different angle. Sometimes that promotes kinship or understanding and may make a situation more workable. Sometimes it just helps us to understand a monster by reminding us he is human and came from somewhere---or it helps us understand enough to try to prevent the making of the next monster.
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