‘I Know People Want a Richer, More Thoughtful Explanation’
Yesterday, The New York Times received intense criticism from journalists, readers, and politicians for its initial front-page headline: “Trump Urges Unity vs. Racism.” The article was about the president’s televised address on Monday, after the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in which he mentioned the need to “condemn racism, bigotry, and white supremacy”—a stark contrast from his typical “both sides” rhetoric.
Though the story itself examined Trump’s history of spewing divisive language, and questioned his ability to unify the country at this moment, the headline sparked outrage and disappointment. The columnist Connie Schultz called the title a “betrayal.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that the headline served as “a reminder of how white supremacy is aided by—and often relies upon—the cowardice of mainstream institutions.” A Times spokesperson told me that the paper saw a “higher volume” of subscription cancellations yesterday than normal.
By the second edition, the headline to “Assailing Hate but Not Guns.” The paper’s executive editor, Dean Baquet, has called the original “a bad headline.” Perhaps predictably, there was backlash to the backlash, with and voicing their disapproval about the change. Baquet talked with me yesterday afternoon about the editorial process that led to the headline, and the fallout. This interview has been edited and condensed
