By Dan Christensen, FloridaBulldog.org
And now for something different.
The Palm Beach Post, like all of South Florida’s once-mighty newspapers, is in trouble. Its circulation has crumbled, its influence has waned as it continues to bleed reporters and editors under its financially beleaguered owner Gannett.
Still, the Post has maintained a local reputation as a feisty source of solid journalism. A newspaper with guts.
That reputation took a hit this month with news that veteran newsman Tony Doris, the Post’s editorial page editor, had been fired for publishing an anti-war cartoon that some found to be antisemitic.
The nationally syndicated cartoon depicts two Israeli soldiers rescuing a Hamas hostage beneath the headline, “Some Israeli hostages are home after over a year of merciless war.” A soldier says, “Watch your step…” as they lead the hostage through a cluster of bodies with the label “over 40,000 Palestinians killed.”
Representatives of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County purchased a full-page ad condemning the cartoon. The New York Times reported that federation CEO Michael Hoffman said that at a meeting Gannett editors apologized “and discussed how the attendees could promote healthy dialogue about issues important to the local Jewish community.”
In an interview with Florida Bulldog, Doris said he was fired a week later by a senior Gannett editor for violating unspecified company policies. No severance pay was offered.
THE LETTER
So why are we writing about this? Because the Post and Gannett, the publisher of USA Today and hundreds of other daily and weekly papers, do not want readers to see the letter that follows by refusing to publish it:
“Dear Editor,
A newspaper’s core purpose is to be a marketplace of ideas for different points of view, popular or not. A newspaper’s editorial content, including political cartoons, should make readers think, question, and contemplate. That is why the Palm Beach Post and its parent company Gannett’s termination of editor Tony Doris for his decision to publish a nationally syndicated anti-war cartoon is shameful and dangerous.
Even more disturbing, the so-called reasoning for Mr. Doris’ termination was the implication the cartoon was antisemitic. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. Many of us inside and outside the Jewish community support the State of Israel, as well as its right to defend itself, most especially following the October 7, 2023 brutal and malicious terror attack. However, we must also acknowledge the Palestinian people’s incredible suffering because of this war.
The Israel/Gaza war is unquestionably divisive. However, censorship of one’s views, intimidation and the termination of a journalist will do nothing to eliminate antisemitism.
The fundamental point is The Post, and all newspapers, should be guardians of freedom of speech and the press. These are our most precious rights, and it’s a newspaper’s responsibility to protect those rights that safeguard our liberties. As Thomas Jefferson eloquently wrote: “Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
Unfortunately, The Post and Gannett betrayed these core principles. They have surrendered to those who seek to eliminate dissent and censor opposing points of view. The Post and Gannett have failed their readers in their most basic institutional obligation and essential mission.”
The letter writers:
Retired Palm Beach County Circuit and Appellate Judge Fred Hazouri, and past recipient of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Jurisprudence Award
Louis M. Silber, West Palm Beach attorney, and Past Co-Chair of two ADL Jurisprudence Award Events
James K. Green, West Palm lawyer, and Past President of the ACLU of Florida
Howard Simon, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida (Retired)
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