I am officially ashamed of my job. The organization that prints and distributes the local newspaper that I deliver–that people pay good money for–needs to take a good, close look at itself and its practices. It’s no wonder subscriptions are on the decline. I’ve gone from having twenty-three customers to thirteen in the three years I’ve been doing the job.
Today, however, takes the proverbial cake.
The article in question (no, I won’t cite it for the following reasons: a) I don’t want to advertise publicly where I live; b) the article is conspicuously absent from their website anyway; and c) I still work for them. For now.) is about a recent awareness-raising campaign entitled “Slut Walk.”
The annual Slut Walk, if you haven’t heard about it, is a tool to teach people (men mostly) that dressing like a slut isn’t an invitation for sexual assault. This, in and of itself, is a reasonable lesson to learn. You can read more about it here: http://www.slutwalktoronto.com/about/how if you’re interested.
But it’s not the Walk itself that I have a problem with – it’s the article.
Apart from numerous grammatical errors, (“you’re” instead of “your”? Come on!) which point blatantly at the fact that if an editor even read through the article he needs to be fired clean out of the editorial cannon, there are the questionable quotes from the event’s organizer, in which she states that the word ‘slut’ need not be a bad word, and that, “It just describes someone that is sexually promiscuous, someone who is maybe for work or for personal reasons and that is not a bad thing.”
Then she goes on to say people are complaining that the Walk isn’t child-friendly, but that, “…there is not a whole lot of scantily clad people…” this directly below a picture of a woman with the middle of her t-shirt cut out, revealing her bare breasts (and no, it’s not edited) and then, “…I think there is only one sign with profanity…there is nothing here that you wouldn’t see on TV or hear on the radio.”
Where is anything child-friendly about this scenario? On one hand you have a legitimate message – clothes don’t invite rape – and then on the other hand you have a newspaper quoting an organizer saying it’s okay for girls to be sexually promiscuous for work or personal reasons or whatever. Not only that, she’s blind!
And so is the editor of my damned paper!!!
Aside from finding a way to get a note to the author of the article to ask him if he grammars much, I’ve a good mind to write a letter to the editor.
I just don’t know where to start.
October 5, 2014 at 11:56 pm
While newspapers are on the decline, there seem to be a lot of local magazines popping up in my town. I wonder if there are other options for you to write locally. I also wonder what people are thinking and saying when they watch the “slut walk.” I consider myself a moderate feminist and just the words, “slut walk” creep me out. I believe a better job is in your near future.
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October 6, 2014 at 4:52 pm
I do hope there’s a better job out there… I’d love to freelance. 🙂 Even online.
Thanks for your comment and your encouragement, JoAnne. 🙂
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September 28, 2014 at 1:22 pm
You’re right Linda! Good point!
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September 26, 2014 at 2:18 am
Excellent rant Linda. I agree 100% and think it is pointless to write, especially if it would jeopardize your job. Pick your battles and rant about the rest. Ha! Well done.
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September 26, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Thanks, Paul. Picking my battles is something I do with my kids, but often I forget about everyone else. 😛 Great advice. 😀
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September 26, 2014 at 12:35 am
Kudos to you Linda! Now go take the job. 🙂
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September 26, 2014 at 2:35 pm
Thanks Debby! 😀
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September 23, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Whoa…I understand how annoying it must be to work there. My last job was the same in the sense that my second boss was clueless in so many ways (especially his job for which he was paid thrice than what we were) that it was frustrating.
A slut walk again sexual harassment – The struggle must be real. -.-
I really hope you find a way out of this job to find a (much) better one! 🙂
Take care! ❤
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September 23, 2014 at 2:49 pm
A slut walk against* sexual harassment. – *hehe, autocorrect works in supernatural ways. *
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September 23, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Start by applying for the editors job! xxxx
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September 23, 2014 at 12:45 pm
Haha! Great idea! 😀
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September 23, 2014 at 12:42 am
Reblogged this on The Musings of My Mind and commented:
I think that you could simply take out the information regarding your working for the paper and the rest is a perfect example of a letter to the editor. I live in San Antonio and I am constantly utilizing my editing skills and reviewing content in the only local newspaper. It is a shame that newspapers are no longer monitoring themselves.
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September 23, 2014 at 12:25 pm
Good suggestion. 🙂 Thanks very much for the re-blog and the benefit of your experience. 🙂
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September 22, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Wow. That’s a tough one. I’m still stuck on the editing. I agree though…what a mess.
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September 22, 2014 at 9:55 pm
I know, right? As if the boobs and the stupid quotes weren’t enough. And it was on the second page! Not even stuck way in the back somewhere.
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September 22, 2014 at 8:28 pm
How about one of us writes the article, I’m pissed off and I don’t even know what newspaper or where you’re talking about!!!
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September 22, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Hey, there’s an idea! It’ll actually be interesting to see if there’s any backlash – though if there is, I doubt I’ll see it in the paper. 😛
Thanks for your support. 🙂
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September 22, 2014 at 4:27 pm
I just find it so incredibly ridiculously painful beyond reason when publications contain grammatical errors. Like fingernails on a chalkboard painful. And so ridiculous that I feel ridiculous even mentioning that it’s ridiculous.
Definitely write that letter. I’m sure once you start typing, it will just fall together. Better yet, pretend one of your characters is writing a letter to the editor of your paper.
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September 22, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Haha! If I pretend it’s one of my characters and they find out it’s me, I’ll lose my job for sure. 😛
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September 22, 2014 at 5:52 pm
LOL I just meant to get the letter written. Think of it as someone else writing the letter. Might make it easier to know how to start it :-).
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September 22, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Ah, okay. Gotcha.
Yep, gonna get fired. 😉
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September 22, 2014 at 5:57 pm
LOL
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September 22, 2014 at 5:58 pm
😉
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September 22, 2014 at 4:03 pm
A “slut walk” against sexual harassment sounds like starting a war for peace.
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September 22, 2014 at 5:50 pm
Ha! You’re right, it does.
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September 22, 2014 at 3:03 pm
I’m not even sure where to start on this. I feel this walk is antithetical to what they’re trying to promote. Men generally don’t dress slutty. Yet women, in an attempt to gain equality, do. This walk also feels like a live action soft core porn walk. I’m still trying to get past that there’s a slutwalk. I’m also going to find out if Milwaukee has one.
PS: If a woman dresses slutty, I do take it as rights to look. Like unabashedly look. If she didn’t want me trying to find all her “secret” birthmarks, she shouldn’t have worn see through pants.
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September 22, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Yeah, the walk itself is a whole ‘nother set of issues. I don’t know how they define “sexual harassment,” but I would hazard a guess that it includes catcalls.
As I said in another comment, don’t get me started.
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September 22, 2014 at 3:13 pm
But Linda, I love winding you up and watching you go 😉 I hope things get better.
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September 22, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Haha! And I would, except I don’t want the fury of a thousand feminists on my head. 😛
Thanks, my dear. 🙂
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September 22, 2014 at 2:47 pm
Haha. That’s ridiculous.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:48 pm
On so many levels.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:39 pm
The whole event sounds full of contradictions. That is certainly not something that I would consider child-friendly, nor do I feel that it’s wise or even okay to promote that it’s acceptable for people to be sexually promiscuous at work, school, or any place for that matter.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:46 pm
Even worse, she said “for work.” At least that’s what the paper printed. The whole thing makes me slightly nauseous. If you read the mission of the Slut Walk on its website, it sounds somewhat less contradictory. I don’t thing the organizer here “gets it.”
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September 22, 2014 at 2:23 pm
LOL, your rant will get no argument from me. Not only do I hate crappy editing and poor journalism, the whole movement towards Slutwalks are what finally made me start speaking out against the entire notion of 4th wave feminism.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Oh don’t get me started on feminism. 😛
Thanks for the support. 🙂
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September 22, 2014 at 2:21 pm
I think John’s advice is sound. Be careful if you believe that a letter would endanger your job.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:28 pm
There probably isn’t much of a precedent already set for newspaper carriers getting fired over letters complaining about lack of editing procedure. 😉 I do think I’ll have to decide however, whether I write the letter or, at any time in the future, submit a query for an article.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:18 pm
We quit getting our newspaper because of many of the same issues. Most newspapers are on the decline because it is easier for folks to read the news on the web now. For us the stories were the same as what was on the television the night before. I do feel bad about your job delivering the papers. I am with you. I could do without the slut walk!
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September 22, 2014 at 2:24 pm
I think that’s most people’s reason behind not getting the paper here too. But they apparently won’t be reading this particular article online. Too embarrassed to post it more than likely.
Thanks for the support, Colleen. 🙂
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September 22, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Dear Editor, (okay I’m an ass) I think as an employee a letter to the editor could start with all the tings that make you feel good about the paper and then end with “I have of late felt embarrassed with some content.” Then spell it out.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:22 pm
You’re probably right – putting some positive points into it might not get me fired. But I doubt I’ll ever be writing for them. 😛
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September 22, 2014 at 2:16 pm
You ever wonder if the decline of newspapers has caused them to stop caring?
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September 22, 2014 at 2:19 pm
You’d think anyone putting out a product who appreciates their job would at least put some effort into it. I dunno. Their content is usually the same online as in print. I think they just really really screwed up.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:30 pm
I don’t know. I see commercials for reality TV all the time and nobody seems to give a rat’s rear on those things. 😛
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September 22, 2014 at 2:32 pm
Haha! Long live realism. Stranger than fiction and reality combined. 😉
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September 22, 2014 at 2:32 pm
Funny thing is that people believe it’s real and totally unscripted.
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September 22, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Which is why it’s so bad. Full circle.
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