The New York Times officials are reportedly “outraged” by the way the newspaper handled one of its colleagues, who allegedly used racist language on a 2019 educational trip.
After the Daily Beast released the story that Times reporter Donald McNeil Jr. was accused of making sexist and racist comments, including the “word n” during a student trip to Peru, the vehicle reported on Wednesday that more 150 Times employees had signed a letter and sent it to their bosses saying they were “deeply disturbed” by the way the newspaper handled the controversy.
“We, your colleagues, feel disrespected for your actions. The company has a responsibility to take this experience seriously, ”said the letter, according to the Beast.
The letter asked the Times to investigate further allegations against McNeil, including any potential allegations of racism that may have arisen since the first report was released, and that McNeil apologize to the student and parents involved in the trip, as well as his colleagues. .
NY TIMES REPORTER ACCUSED TO USE ‘N-WORD’, ANOTHER RACIST, SEXIST COMMENTS ON THE 2019 EDUCATIONAL TRIP: REPORT
“Our community is outraged and suffering,” said the letter. “Despite The Times’ apparent commitment to diversity and inclusion, we offer a prominent platform – critical coverage covering a pandemic that disproportionately affects people of color – for someone who has chosen to use language that is offensive and unacceptable by any newsroom standards. He he did it while serving as a representative for The Times in front of high school students. “
The letter was well received by the executive editor of the Times, Dean Baquet, editor AG Sulzberger, and by chief executive Meredith Kopit Levien, who replied, “We appreciate the spirit in which it was offered and widely agree with the message.” They added that “teams of people” are analyzing the issues raised in the letter and the results will be provided to the team
The Times did not immediately respond to Fox News’s request for comment.
McNeil, the Times science and health reporter who spent the past year covering the coronavirus outbreak for the newspaper, was allegedly disciplined by the Times after he took students on a trip organized by Putney Student Travel and part of a program called New York Times Student Journeys.
The Beast reported that several participants filed complaints against McNeil, accusing the 66-year-old of making “racist and sexist comments during the trip, including, according to two complaints, the use of the ‘n-word’.”
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At least six complaints from students or their parents outlined allegations that McNeil used fiery rhetoric, in addition to making statements about not believing in the white privilege concept and using “stereotypes about black teenagers”.
“I expect immediate action on the actions taken by Donald, I am deeply disappointed with the New York Times because of the comments he made during our trip,” expressed one participant in a review of the trip obtained by the Beast. “I think firing him would be appropriate.”
“Donald not only said several racist comments on several occasions, but he was also disrespectful to many students during meals and in other settings,” said another critic.
“I would change the journalist. He was a racist,” wrote a third person. “He used the word ‘N’, said horrible things about black [sic] teenagers, and said white [sic] supremacy does not exist. “
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McNeil, who has been in the newspaper since 1976, has been disciplined by the Times, according to a statement provided to the Beast.
“In 2019, Donald McNeil Jr. participated in a student journey as an expert. We later learned of complaints from some of the students on the trip about certain statements that Donald had made during the trip,” a Times spokesman told the Times. Beast. “We conducted a thorough investigation and disciplined Donald for statements and language that were inappropriate and inconsistent with our values. We found that he used bad judgment in repeating a racist insult in the context of a conversation about racist language. In addition, we apologize to students who participated in the trip. “