When Michael Richards was caught screaming a well known racial slur at black members of his audience, most newspapers didn’t use the n-word to report the incident. Actually, I can’t find a single serious newspaper that actually spelled out the word. Not even in a quote.
The same standard isn’t being used for the f-word, which was used by Isaiah Washington of Grey’s Anatomy fame to denigrate fellow actor, T.R. Knight, who recently came out.
The anti-gay slur was mentioned repeatedly in quotes from Washington and Knight, who went on the Ellen DeGeneres show to talk about what happened. I shouldn't have to say this. But apparently I do: It’s not OK to use a slur even if it’s in a quote.
Offenders include:
Because its stories are posted around the world, the AP is probably the worst offender of all. The latest AP article throws the word out there, even at the end of a story about how offensive gay groups say it is to use the f-word. Hello? Were you not reading your own story? Don’t use the word.
Kudos go to the likes of The New York Times, which never used the word during a recent story that successfully outlined how the whole incident unfolded.
As someone who has been called the f-word, I can tell you that newspapers should avoid being associated with the type of people who use it. Generally, these folks are narrow-minded or immature . . . not qualities to link with your brand.
