Comments on: Should You Use The “N” Word? http://www.collegenewsroom.org/2010/01/20/should-you-use-the-n-word/ A network for collegiate newsrooms to collaborate, share and learn. Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:46:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: fox http://www.collegenewsroom.org/2010/01/20/should-you-use-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-35 fox Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:46:00 +0000 http://www.collegenewsroom.org/?p=151#comment-35 One thought behind the "all or thing" train of thought is not just they'll know what it is, but that you're really lying to yourself. It's like these examples: Oh, fudge! Oh, sheet! If I hear a person say this, I feel like they may as well say what they mean. Why hide it in an adult world? One thought behind the “all or thing” train of thought is not just they’ll know what it is, but that you’re really lying to yourself. It’s like these examples:

Oh, fudge!

Oh, sheet!

If I hear a person say this, I feel like they may as well say what they mean. Why hide it in an adult world?

]]> By: Kelsey Schnell http://www.collegenewsroom.org/2010/01/20/should-you-use-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Kelsey Schnell Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:27:12 +0000 http://www.collegenewsroom.org/?p=151#comment-32 I think the fact that you're thinking about this means your concerned about the content in your newspaper. (that's a good thing) I would like to see the column that you were talking about, NIULauren. If it doesn't impact the integrity, not using the "N" word seems like a fair choice. Book titles or quotes, I think you have to put it in there. I think the fact that you’re thinking about this means your concerned about the content in your newspaper. (that’s a good thing)

I would like to see the column that you were talking about, NIULauren. If it doesn’t impact the integrity, not using the “N” word seems like a fair choice.

Book titles or quotes, I think you have to put it in there.

]]> By: Brandon Martinez, Web Developer http://www.collegenewsroom.org/2010/01/20/should-you-use-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Brandon Martinez, Web Developer Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:55:36 +0000 http://www.collegenewsroom.org/?p=151#comment-31 Fox: I totally agree; most people would totally pick up on any of the star-words. All or nothing! Fox:

I totally agree; most people would totally pick up on any of the star-words. All or nothing!

]]> By: fox http://www.collegenewsroom.org/2010/01/20/should-you-use-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-30 fox Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:32:44 +0000 http://www.collegenewsroom.org/?p=151#comment-30 Can you copy and paste the column mentioned in here for us to read? I think that might help the conversation. This is a tough call. Context is huge when making the decision. One thing I have been told, that makes sense to me, is that there is no reason to use a word if you have to replace it. For example, why run sh**. We all know what it means. Either eliminate it altogether or run all the letters of the word. Can you copy and paste the column mentioned in here for us to read? I think that might help the conversation.

This is a tough call. Context is huge when making the decision.

One thing I have been told, that makes sense to me, is that there is no reason to use a word if you have to replace it. For example, why run sh**. We all know what it means. Either eliminate it altogether or run all the letters of the word.

]]> By: NIULauren http://www.collegenewsroom.org/2010/01/20/should-you-use-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-29 NIULauren Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:22:44 +0000 http://www.collegenewsroom.org/?p=151#comment-29 I'd call it editing, not censorship, if its the editor's choice to not use the word. I edit out offensive language and the writers understand the justification: The point can be made without it, and we don't run the risk of losing readers over something as stupid as us using a word they don't like. If we're going to lose a reader, I'd rather it be because of something meaningful. I’d call it editing, not censorship, if its the editor’s choice to not use the word. I edit out offensive language and the writers understand the justification: The point can be made without it, and we don’t run the risk of losing readers over something as stupid as us using a word they don’t like. If we’re going to lose a reader, I’d rather it be because of something meaningful.

]]> By: colleenjoan http://www.collegenewsroom.org/2010/01/20/should-you-use-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-28 colleenjoan Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:22:08 +0000 http://www.collegenewsroom.org/?p=151#comment-28 We have never censored it in a quote. If the quote isn't essential to the story, why are you running it the quote anyway? "N-word" or not. I think censorship for mere fear of offense just gives the word more power. We have never censored it in a quote. If the quote isn’t essential to the story, why are you running it the quote anyway? “N-word” or not.
I think censorship for mere fear of offense just gives the word more power.

]]> By: NIULauren http://www.collegenewsroom.org/2010/01/20/should-you-use-the-n-word/comment-page-1/#comment-27 NIULauren Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:11:03 +0000 http://www.collegenewsroom.org/?p=151#comment-27 We ran a column today by a black columnist about white people using that word as a greeting to black friends as long as they aren't offended. I checked out other newspapers and their habits with the word, and big papers, like the Trib and others, appeared to use n-word in all cases unless the word appeared in a quote or a book title. Then the word ran uncensored. I feel that is a pretty reasonable style. Unfortunately, after I researched all of this and censored the word in the column, I missed one (it was late, after copydesk had left), so we inadvertently ran the n-word, uncensored, in our paper today. My fault. I would post a link to the column here but we're switching our site and the archives aren't up yet. Another interesting thing i noticed on the Trib's site is that, in white writer's columns, the word ran 'n-word,' but in columns by black writers, it ran with the 'N' capitalized. We ran a column today by a black columnist about white people using that word as a greeting to black friends as long as they aren’t offended.

I checked out other newspapers and their habits with the word, and big papers, like the Trib and others, appeared to use n-word in all cases unless the word appeared in a quote or a book title. Then the word ran uncensored. I feel that is a pretty reasonable style.
Unfortunately, after I researched all of this and censored the word in the column, I missed one (it was late, after copydesk had left), so we inadvertently ran the n-word, uncensored, in our paper today. My fault. I would post a link to the column here but we’re switching our site and the archives aren’t up yet.

Another interesting thing i noticed on the Trib’s site is that, in white writer’s columns, the word ran ‘n-word,’ but in columns by black writers, it ran with the ‘N’ capitalized.

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