I posted this on the roguecurrent.com Media Critics group page a bit ago:
We're getting some unhappy callers about our Neo-Nazi coverage in today's MT (4/22). Concerns expressed about a variety of things, biggest was that the posed photo glamorized the three (ahem) gentlemen. Not as much concern about the story, which detailed their criminal pasts and had comments from several sources opposed to their efforts, but some readers thought it should have been played on B1 or inside somewhere, not on the front page.
We discussed the potential for that reaction yesterday and tried to make sure the story did not come off as a feature about some local guys in a community group. I think the posed photo was problematic, but also think it made a strong statement about who these guys are.
I've told the callers I've talked to that I think an important part of our job is to shine light into the dark corners of the community. Putting the story on Page 10 doesn't make it go away, it only helps us ignore it by keeping it in the shadows.
By the way, the Neo-Nazis didn't like it either. Turns out we are part of the left-wing Jewish conspiracy.
