Golfweek editor out due to cover
January 18, 2008 "We apologize for creating this graphic cover that received
extreme negative reaction from consumers, subscribers and
advertisers across the country," Turnstile Publishing Co.
president William P. Kupper Jr. said. "We were trying to convey
the controversial issues 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."
Turnstile is the parent company of Golfweek.
The company said Dave Seanor, the vice president and editor of
Golfweek, has been replaced immediately by Jeff Babineau.
A copy of the Jan. 19 cover was removed from the magazine's Web
site Friday morning.
Kelly Tilghman, in her second year as anchor of PGA Tour
coverage on Golf Channel, was suspended for two weeks because of
comments she made during the second round of the Mercedes-Benz
Championship, when she and analyst Nick Faldo were discussing young
challengers to Woods.
Faldo suggested that "to take Tiger on, maybe they should just
gang up (on him) for a while."
"Lynch him in a back alley," Tilghman said, laughing.
Seanor said in an interview Thursday night that he took
responsibility for the cover, which showed a noose against a purple
sky and the title, "Caught in a Noose." The subtitle said,
"Tilghman slips up, and Golf Channel can't wriggle free."
The magazine devoted four pages of news and commentary on the
topic, including a column on the back page supporting Tilghman and
asking that the controversy be kept in context.
In an editorial, the magazine explained why it felt the Tilghman
story deserved so much attention. It was accompanied by a cartoon
that showed the Rev. Al Sharpton, who demanded Tilghman be fired,
holding a noose and offering it to a pair of Golf Channel employees
staring in a hole of thin ice, presumably where Tilghman had sunk.
Reaction to the noose drew a harsh rebuke from PGA Tour
commissioner Tim Finchem.
"Clearly, what Kelly said was inappropriate and unfortunate,
and she obviously regrets her choice of words," Finchem said in a
statement. "But we consider Golfweek's imagery of a swinging noose
on its cover to be outrageous and irresponsible. It smacks of
tabloid journalism. It was a naked attempt to inflame and keep
alive an incident that was heading to an appropriate conclusion."
The tour issued a statement Friday that said Finchem's comments
were "not a call to action, but rather a response to an inquiry
and an expression of the tour's dissatisfaction with Golfweek's
choice of a cover image."
The tour said Golfweek's decision on its editorial leadership
was an internal matter.
CBSSports.com reported Thursday that Jack Peter, chief operating
officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame, said that tour officials
had told the magazine it might withdraw $50,000 in advertisements
for the World Golf Village.
"Jack was not speaking on behalf of the PGA Tour," spokesman
Ty Votaw said Friday. "I can categorically tell you the PGA Tour
has not threatened any advertising pull."
It was not clear if Seanor had been fired.
Babineau, 45, has been with Golfweek for nine years, including
roles as editor, deputy editor and senior writer.
"We know we have a job ahead of us to re-earn the trust and
confidence of many loyal readers," Babineau said. "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."