Marion Barry is not the most respectable character in the district, but the Washington City Paper might have gone to far, at least as far as headlines and publication covers go.  The current issue cover shows Barry and Donna Watts-Brighthaupt—famous recently for leveling stalking charges against the former DC mayor and current city councilman—above the following headline: “You Put Me Out in Denver ‘Cause I Wouldn’t Suck Your !@#$.”  The last word, not spelled out for you here, is spelled out perfectly clearly in larger than life type.

Free speech is free speech.  But discretion has a place in society too.  The City Paper is free and lays out on newsstands in plain view.  Kids—who don’t generally read the paper—will see the headline.  Not only is the headline base and uninformative—it doesn’t even allude to the contents of the story—but it is also irresponsible too.  In an era where journalists already get a bad rap for being sensational and tawdry, this current issue doesn’t help.  And the content is hardly objective.  It is quick to label Barry a “womanizer” while the story only focuses on his relationship with one woman.  A womanizer he may be, but attributions are needed.

I personally have read some excellent journalism in the City Paper, but this falls far below the mark.  The City Paper offers an alternative look at Washington.  That’s fine.  But I would hate to see it devolve into the realm of tabloid news.  This issue points in that direction.

Copyright David R. Norton 2009