Press: We Don’t Cover Aryan Protests

Calls came into the newsroom Friday alerting us that members of the Aryan Nations were protesting near North Idaho College and the Human Rights Education Institute. Sadly, this isn’t unusual. A small group of self-proclaimed white supremacists, usually about four to six of them, occasionally decide to stand somewhere in the area with signs, trying to spread their message. It’s a jarring sight, but we didn’t rush to the scene. At The Press, we don’t report on this group’s protests, even if there is a counter-protest like the one that took place Friday. Critics might say we’re choosing to be silent about hate, but that’s not the case. We’re choosing against giving a platform to white supremacists when they’re simply looking for publicity. We will not be one of their promoters/ Coeur d’Alene Press . More here.

DFO: The SR decided to give minimal coverage to the Aryan Nations protest, opting not to run photographs of Shaun Winkler & Co. and their vile protest signs. On HucksOnline Friday, I posted a couple of small stories about the protest, focusing on the counter-protest by Rachel Dolezal. I believe you should shine a bright spotlight on these activities, to allow readers/listeners to know where they’re occurring. The coverage, I believe, was instrumental in the support shown by the community to Winkler protests against against the Mexican food stands last year. But I understand that each member of the media needs to decide for itself how to cover these low-brow jerks.

Question: Is there a one-size-fits-all approach to covering the protesting Winklerites?