ANCA Posted April 30, 2001 Report Share Posted April 30, 2001 Dear friends, Here is an item you may find of interest. ANCA Media Alert4/30/2001 NEW YORK TIMES AGAIN DISMISSES ARMENIANGENOCIDE AS A MATTER OF "ARMENIANS SAY..." -- April 24th article revises AP story to reduce Armenian claims from "1.5 million" to "hundreds of thousands" ==============================================================Status:============================================================== The New York Times, in its April 24th edition, ran a story in which it again dismissed the Armenian Genocide as simply an Armenian allegation. This formulation represents a form of complicity in the Turkish government's campaign of genocide denial. In the article, "Vatican OKs Armenian Martyr," the newspaper cites April 24th as: "[...] the day that Armenians commemorate the deaths of hundreds of thousands in what they say was an Ottoman campaign to force them out of eastern Turkey." Compounding this dismissive approach is the fact that the New York Times rewrote the Associate Press (AP) source article for this story, reducing the figure "Armenians say" were killed. The original AP story reads as follows: "[...] the same day Armenians commemorate the deaths of 1.5 million of their countrymen in what they say was part of the Ottoman Empire's campaign to force them out of eastern Turkey." ==============================================================Action:============================================================== Contact the Foreign Editor of the New York Times, Andrew Rosenthal, and ask that in future reporting the New York Times end their practice of dismissing the Armenian Genocide with language such as "Armenians say..." --------------------------------------------------------------As always, be firm, but polite. Hostile comments will only undermine the message you are trying to deliver.-------------------------------------------------------------- Web: Go to http://www.anca.org and follow the simple directions Email: andyr@nytimes.com Phone: (212) 556-7415 - Foreign Desk Mail Andrew Rosenthal Foreign Editor The New York Times West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036-3959 --------------------------------------------------------------Sample Phone Script-------------------------------------------------------------- (The phone will likely be answered by a receptionist. Ask to speak to Andrew Rosenthal. If he is not available, ask to the speak to the foreign editor on duty, or leave a written message for Mr. Rosenthal.) Hello, my name is ________________ and I am calling with regard to your unprofessional coverage of the Armenian Genocide. In particular, I am troubled by the Times' practice of trying to reduce the Armenian Genocide to an Armenian allegation through the use of language such as "Armenians say..." This policy represents a form of complicity in modern Turkey's ongoing campaign to deny this crime against all humanity. I respectfully ask that the Times review its policy on this matter. Thank you. --------------------------------------------------------------Sample Letter-------------------------------------------------------------- (Please take a moment to personalize the letter. The New York Times only prints original letters.) Andrew RosenthalForeign EditorThe New York TimesWest 43rd StreetNew York, NY 10036-3959 Dear Mr. Rosenthal: I am concerned that your April 24th World Briefing article, "Vatican OKs Armenian Martyr," represents a form of complicity in Turkey's campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide. In this article your newspaper reduces the April 24th commemoration of the first Genocide of the 20th Century to the following phrase: "[...] the day that Armenians commemorate the deaths of hundreds of thousands in what they say was an Ottoman campaign to force them out of eastern Turkey." This language reflects a lack of adherence to professional journalistic standards. The facts of the Armenian Genocide are supported by extensive documentary evidence, a vast body of academic research, and the overwhelming consensus of international opinion - with the single exception of the Turkish government - a government which, it may interest you to know, consistently jails more journalists than any other in the world. Based on the concerns I have raised, I would like to ask you two questions: 1) What standard does the New York Times use in the application of the word genocide in its news stories? 2) What is the New York Times specific policy on the use of the term genocide in its coverage of the Armenian Genocide? Thank you for taking the time to address my concerns. Sincerely _______________ ==============================================================New York Times Article - 4/24/01:============================================================== The New York Times April 25, 2001 World Briefing VATICAN CITY: ARMENIAN IS `MARTYR': The Vatican proclaimed an Armenian Catholic bishop who was killed in 1915 and 26 Ukrainians who died in Communist persecutions to be martyrs, the first step toward sainthood. The honor for Ignace Maloyan, archbishop of Mardin, Turkey, came on the day that Armenians commemorate the deaths of hundreds of thousands in what they say was an Ottoman campaign to force them out of eastern Turkey. Turkey says that the toll is inflated and that Armenians were killed or resettled as the empire tried to quell unrest. The Ukrainians were killed during anti-church campaigns by Ukraine's former Communist rulers. (AP) ==============================================================Associate Press Article - 4/24/01:============================================================== VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican on Tuesday proclaimed as martyrs an Armenian bishop killed in 1915 and 26 Ukrainians who died in Communist persecutions after World War I. The announcement was the first step toward beatification and possible sainthood. In the case of Bishop Ignazio Choukrallah Maloyan, archbishop of the Armenian church in Mardin, Turkey, the recognition came on the same day Armenians commemorate the deaths of 1.5 million of their countrymen in what they say was part of the Ottoman Empire's campaign to force them out of eastern Turkey. Turkey says the death toll is inflated and that Armenians were killed or displaced as the empire tried to quell unrest. The Vatican citation said the Armenian church was at that time "devastated by a violent persecution that took numerous victims" among clergy and faithful. It said the choice of date for the announcement was a coincidence. The Ukrainians - eight bishops, 14 priests, three nuns and a layman - were martyred during anti-church campaigns by Ukraine's former communist rulers, the Vatican said. ==============================================================Background:============================================================== The New York Times has exhibited a consistent pattern of downplaying the Armenian Genocide. a) They have repeatedly cited inaccurate figures and only run corrections after extensive community protests. They have reduced mention of the Armenian Genocide to a matter of Armenian claims, using dismissive phrasing such as "Armenians say..." c) In minimizing the Armenian Genocide as an Armenian allegation they seek to create the impression that the Armenians are alone in recognizing the Genocide. d) They fail to report that the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by nearly all scholars of genocide, by the United Nations, the European Parliament, the French Parliament, the Italian Parliament, Pope John Paul II, and the overwhelming body of international public opinion - with the single exception of the Turkish government. e) They have refused to state their standards for the use of the term "genocide" in describing present-day and historical events - such as Rwanda, the Holocaust, Cambodia, the Armenian Genocide, etc. ==============================================================Get Involved Locally:============================================================== To get involved in working with the media in your area, contact your local ANC chapter or regional ANCA office. In the Eastern United States ANCA Eastern Region 80 Bigelow Avenue Watertown, MA 02472 Tel: (617) 923-1918 Fax: (617) 926-5525 Email: ancaer@mediaone.net In the Western United States ANCA Western Region 104 North Belmont, Suite 200 Glendale, CA 91206 Tel: (818) 500-1918 Fax: (818) 246-7353 Email: ancawr@anca.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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