The kiss pic on a school paper causes controversy
Abilene, Texas – An Abilene school newspaper has come under fire after publishing a large photo of the publicity-grabbing kiss between celebrities Britney Spears and Madonna.
The school’s newspaper, The Battery2003 MTV Video Music Awards. The newspaper used the photo of the singers’ antics during a performance to accompany several stories about homosexuality with the main headline: “Tantalizing lip-lock rekindles debate over sexual preference.”
School board member Mike Sullivan said the amount of coverage the newspaper devoted to homosexuality upset him.
“It’s not the issue of homosexuality, because that’s been discussed in the paper before,” he told the Abilene Reporter-News in its Friday edition. “But it was given far more space and attention and in a way that seemed to be promoting that viewpoint.”
People upset over the recent flap have called advertisers in the newspaper and urged them to stop advertising, newspaper adviser John McCartney said.
So far, the furor does not seem to have affected advertising sales at the 77-year-old newspaper, printed once a month during the school year.
“They said they believed I used poor judgment in allowing the students to write about homophobia and to use the picture,” McCartney said.
The coverage included a staff editorial that read, “People who are comfortable with their sexuality are not bothered by gays or lesbians. People need to be educated, and to respect other people’s personal preferences, if they ever hope to live a full and rich life.”
Sullivan said he will continue advertising his business, Sylvan Learning Center, and reading The Battery, which he called “an outstanding student newspaper.”
School administrators have asked The Battery to alert the school’s principal the next time potentially controversial stories are planned so he can review them, but not necessarily censor them, McCartney said.
“From the people I’ve heard from, two ladies locking lips in a big picture does not represent the viewpoints of people in Abilene,” said David Polnick, Abilene school district superintendent.
School board policy states that all student publications are under the control of the school administration and the board and all publications “shall be carefully edited to reflect the ideals and expectations of the citizens of the district for their schools.”
Cheyenne Casady, editor of The Battery, said she does not regret the newspaper’s coverage of homosexuality.
“It’s funny that they are going to let a high school paper have such a big effect on them,” Casady said. “I hope in the issues (of the newspaper) to come we have more controversial issues,” she said. “I don’t think this is going to stop us.”
Source: Associated Press