The Minnesota News Council
last month upheld a complaint that the Minnesota Daily was unfair
in using local artist Mari Newman to introduce a review of the play “The
Mad Woman of Chaillot.” The
vote was 10-4. The News Council also voted 11-3 to uphold a complaint that
the review was unfair in how it described the character and activities
of Ms. Newman.
Newman, known for her
colorfully decorated home in South Minneapolis, complained to the
News Council after she saw the May theater review that contained
what she said were offensive descriptions of her character. Newman
complained that her inclusion in the article was “politically
incorrect” and “cheap.” Newman also complained
that the use of her first and last name in the article, as well as
the location of her residence, was unnecessary.
The News Council denied
a third complaint that the use of Newman’s
first and last name in the review, as well as the location of her
residence, was unfair. The vote was 10-3, with one abstention.
The publishers of the
Minnesota Daily attended the hearing, and defended the paper’s inclusion of Newman in its review of “The Madwoman
of Chaillot.” “The author, Sarah Miller, drew parallels
to real life, where readers could relate to the play and its message…Miller
used people from the Twin Cities, including Newman, to speak critically
about societies that label people ‘crazy,’” said
Editor-in-Chief Emily Banks. “The words used to describe Newman
were subjective and intended to communicate nonconformity, or extreme
eccentricity,” noted Banks.
“There’s an underlying negative tone to this review; it
goes beyond colorful creativity,” said media member Kerri Miller.
Banks, defending the
review, told council members that the review, taken as a whole,
is meant to celebrate eccentric, colorful women, like the play’s main character. “The article wasn’t
meant to attack Ms. Newman,” said Banks.
The Council members
agreed that Newman, whose home and art has been featured in past
news coverage, is a public figure. “Newman’s
history of being in the media spotlight made her a public figure subject
to public critique,” commented Banks.
However, most Council members believed that the inclusion of Newman
in the theater review was unnecessary.
“I always tell my journalism students, ‘Never forget that
you’re writing about real people,’” said media member
Steve Schild. “I don’t think the Daily did that here.”
Al Zdon, a public member
who voted to deny all three complaints, did not think the review
was unfair. “I don’t see a problem
with what the Daily wrote,” said Zdon. “Perhaps it was
not well-written, but that’s fairly common in journalism.” However,
most Council members believed that the inclusion of Newman in the
theater review was unnecessary.
Newman, a past winner
of the VSA arts of Minnesota Artist Recognition Grant, commented, “I
hope my complaint brought a dose of reality to the Minnesota Daily
and the campus. It was a victory for disabled people.”
Sarah Bauer is Interim
Director of the Minnesota News Council. The Minnesota News Council
was created in 1970 to promote fair, vigorous and trusted journalism.
It presents complaints about accuracy and fairness to news organizations,
holds public hearings to consider unresolved complaints and conducts
public forums aimed at fostering trust in journalism. The News
Council has 24 voting members, half of them journalists, half laypersons.
The hearing process is voluntary; the Council’s determinations
are advisory and carry no sanctions. ![]()
Editor’s Note: We have recently learned that the Daily has no
plans to publish the News Council’s findings.
