Few in British media have any right to call themselves journalists. By refusing to reprint the cover of the new Charlie Hebdo – made newsworthy beyond any doubt by the slaughter in Paris – the British newspapers have abrogated their responsibility to report the news. Resorting instead to bland verbal descriptions when showing the cover itself is what is required (both practically and morally) they have shown themselves to be spineless cowards.
There was one notable exception. The Guardian reprinted the cover (albeit with an appropriately named ‘trigger warning’ up front and, unusually, disabling the ability to enlarge its postage stamp sized thumbnail to the full resolution.
With – one imagines – trembling hands, The Telegraph printed only the masthead of the magazine, omitting the cartoon. This is worse than not printing anything at all, but still one imagines furious debate in their editorial offices might have taken place as to whether even a portion of the cover would endanger their lives or upset sensibilities.
The Daily Mail, usually filled with bravado when reporting on Islamism, played it safe by picturing a man holding a copy of the magazine folded to exclude the cartoon depiction of Mohammed.
So hats off to The Guardian.
Broadcast-wise, it seems so far only MTV (UK) has dared to show the cover. MTV, people! Where the hell is the BBC, Sky, Channel 4 and ITV?
Some of these outlets have shown the shocking execution at point-blank range of the French police officer. Yet, somehow a cartoon is deemed too shocking to run.
My grandfathers fought in the war. My grandmothers survived The Blitz with steely resolve. What a waste of effort. What a waste of blood and toil if today we’re too (in)timid(ated) to print drawings.
