The Chicago Tribune has admitted that they are removing the comic strip “Doonesbury” over its depiction of maybe-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The Tribune claims they are doing it out of “fairness” since the strip contains excerpts from a book not yet on the market and unavailable to the Tribune for verification.
Sounds suspect. Is verification necessary before the fact? Can’t the readers all view the strip in the Tribune then wait for the book on Palin by Joe McGinniss and see for themselves? It seems unduly paternalistic, more like censorship rather than responsible journalism . -db
From a commentary for the First Amendment Center, September 12, 2011, by Ken Paulson.