modes of control- norms

Here I saw another example of using norms as a mode of control. I expected the NYT to try to enforce journalistic standards, but I did not really expect that it would often be the citizens that would demand that standard from the NYT.

I love how the interviewee tries discussing a serious event that happened in the actual neighborhood, and the interviewer seems more interested in asking about penis noses and crying.

Also, if you’re going to interview locals about life in the neighborhood, please move on from asking them their favorite places to eat. I agree with this guy - food is boring.

Seriously, please fire this interviewer unless she can start asking questions that are neither insipid nor condescending.

Interview Fail.

— shaq-fu

I too think this was a disaster. Here, the subject of the interview started to talk about a serious issue that could have been followed up with another posting about crime, safety and resources for victims in the neighborhood, but no… we got crying and penis noses.

Is this REALLY what the New York Times is about??

— larry

Myryah-

Thank you for responding to our comments. My main issues have already been made; perhaps it was bad editing perhaps not. I simply believe that The New York Times stands for excellence in newspaper journalism. While the blog format is inherently casual, that (in my opinion) does not give reporters quality carte blanche.

As a resident of Clinton Hill, I hoped (and still do) that this blog could be a glimpse of the neighborhood with the same high caliber reporting that the New York Times has built its stellar reputation on. There are other blogs out there that cover the neighborhood. How is this one to be different? A pedigree name alone only gets you so far; ultimately the content (even as casual as blogs are) needs to measure up.

This is not just a commentary on this article but also the blog as a whole.

— larry

Here norms as a mode of control was successful, as NYT editor and reporter Andy Newman responded by posting the full transcript of the interview.

Gentle readers (and writers): In keeping with The Local’s Policy of Maximum Transparency, and because there’s interest, I give you the original text of Myryah’s interview with Karl, unedited save for two swear words that I changed to [expletive]s:

http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/karl-unabridged/

— Andy Newman