Summary: An editor who dared to put a photo of a noose on the cover of his magazine as art for a story has been fired.  01-18-2008
Golfweek Fires Editor Over Noose Cover
By RICHARD SANDOMIR, New York Times

    Golfweek magazine, which published a cover with a noose set against a purplish sky to illustrate its coverage of a controversial comment about Tiger Woods, announced Friday that it had fired Dave Seanor, the editor who approved the cover.
    The Golfweek cover was in response to the remark by Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman on Jan. 4 that one way for young golfers to stop Tiger Woods is to “lynch him in a back alley.”   
     The magazine cover line reads: “Caught in a Noose: Tilghman slips up, and Golf Channel can’t wriggle free,” and points readers to a special report by the weekly magazine.
    Tim Finchem, the PGA Tour commissioner, said in a statement on Thursday that the “swinging noose” imagery was “outrageous and irresponsible.” He added, “It was a naked attempt to inflame and keep alive an incident that was heading to an appropriate conclusion.”
    The magazine, with a circulation of 160,000, nearly all of it by subscription, also received about 100 to 150 demands for cancellations. As far as was known, no advertisers have pulled out, but William P. Kupper Jr., president of Turnstile Publishing Company, the parent company of Golfweek, announced Friday morning that Seanor had been replaced by Jeff Babineau.
    “We apologize for creating this graphic cover that received extreme negative reaction from consumers, subscribers and advertisers across the country," Kupper said in a statement. “We were trying to convey the controversial issue with a strong and provocative graphic image. It is now obvious that the overall reaction to our cover deeply offended many people. For that, we are deeply apologetic.”
    Babineau, 45, has been with Golfweek for nine years, and has previously served as editor, deputy editor and senior writer. Babineau will report directly to Kupper.
    Seanor said on Thursday that his intention was not to be “racially provocative,” but to illustrate a noose tightening around Tilghman, the Golf Channel and golf. He said: “There weren’t a lot of other ideas for the cover; either you put Kelly out there or this image, which is emblematic of what this controversy is about.” 
   Seanor said that Finchem’s response was “over the top, but he has a vested interest. He has a contract with the Golf Channel. I thought he was a little bit harsh.”
   In Friday’s statement, Babineau said: "We know we have a job ahead of us to re-earn the trust and confidence of many loyal readers. Our staff is very passionate about the game. Our wish is that one regretful error does not erase more than 30 years of service we’ve dedicated to this industry."
    Tilghman received a two-week unpaid suspension; she is expected back Jan. 23.