Newspaper Under Fire for Anti-Semitic Ads
The first ad, which appeared on February 3, was placed by the First Baptist Church. It appeared on the Religion & Values page and promoted a sermon titled "The Only Way to Destroy the Jewish Race." According to the Portland Press Herald, the sermon was supportive of Jews and the title was misleading. The newspaper apologized, called the ad an oversight, and said they would put safeguards in place to prevent it from happening again.
On February 14, a second ad appeared. This one, placed by PeoplesChoice Credit Union, was depicted as an Old West "Wanted" poster and featured a man they called "The Fee Bandit" who was attempting to collect fees from customers. Some say the man, who smiled and wore a bushy beard and short-brimmed hat, resembled a Hasidic Jew and tapped into offensive stereotypes.
Andrew Tarsy, director of the Anti-Defamation League New England, called for the Portland Herald Press to better train its staff. "There are images and caricatures that have historically been used to demonize and marginalize Jewish people, with grave, grave consequences," he is quoted as saying. "You put that ad in front of a person who has been sensitized to that experience, and you see the reaction on their face."
When interviewed by the Boston Herald, Tarsy went a little further, stating the ad "raises some of the most negative images of Jewish people in history as a greedy person motivated by money who gouges non-Jewish people and can't be trusted."
Kimberly McCall of McCall Media & Marketing and Luke Labbe, manager of PeoplesChoice, created the ad. Both apologized, saying that any harm was unintentional. "We didn't mean it to be offensive, but in hindsight, it is, and we've pulled that ad," Labbe told the Press Herald. "We plead ignorance, I guess."
Labbe doesn't blame McCall or her agency, stating that he gave final approval.
The ad was part of a series featuring old themes. The previous ad depicted a pirate and asked customers to join the credit union to avoid being charged high fees. The image in the bandit ad was intended to be an old time banker in period costume. Posters of the ad, which hung in different branches of the credit union for two weeks without incident, have been removed.
Robert Bickler, president of the Portland Press Herald, said the newspaper would institute sensitivity training and controls to prevent further incident.
SOURCES:
"Another ad seen as being anti-Semitic", Portland Press Herald, February 16, 2007
"Another newspaper ad offends area Jews", The Forecaster, February 15, 2007
"Bank Apologizes for Anti-Semitic Ad", Arcamax Publishing, February 17, 2007
Published by Roselyn James
Roselyn James has been actively pursuing a writing career for five years. Her fiction, essays, and articles have appeared in various journals and online publications. She can be reached at roselynrjames@gmai... View profile
- What is a Credit Union Anyway?Whether you're not sure what a credit union is, have never even heard the term before, or are looking for an easy way to explain them to others, I have got you covered.
Military Members - Beware of a Fraudelant Navy Federal Credit Union WebsiteOnline scam artists are once again targeting the online military community, this time with a fraudulent Navy Federal Credit Union website.
A Credit Union or a Bank? Which is the Better Option?There are advantages to banking with credit unions, but are credit unions really the best option for everyone? The following information will help you decide if a credit union o...- Anti-Semitic Views in Shakespeare's Merchant of VeniceShakespeare needed to appeal to the majority of London, which at the time held strong anti-Semitic views. This raises the possibility that Shakespeare might have incorporated this attitude through his portrayal of Sh...
- The Merchant of Venice - Anti-Semitic or Anti-Christian?"The Merchant of Venice" has been called Shakespeare's anti-Semitic play, with good reason. Anyone who sits through a traditional performance should not be condemned for believing Shakespeare was, indeed, a bigot. But...
- Find and Join a Local Credit Union
- Credit Union Version of FDIC Raised to $250,000
- Arkansas Federal Credit Union Versus Other Banks
- The Portland Press Herald's Sad Decline
- Ron Paul's Libertarian Newsletters Revealed to Contain Racist, Anti-Semitic &...
- Benefits of Taking Out a Mortgage With a Credit Union
- Why You Should Join a Credit Union
6 Comments
Post a CommentGreat reporting!
Thank you for reposting your comment and question, Daniel. I apologize for deleting the first one.
I asked if having seen the photo, Amanda thought, and thought other people would think, that it looks like her grandfather, or a generic Italian, or an Old West banker, or a traditional Orthodox Jew, and I noted that it wasn't merely the resemblance, but the juxtaposition of the resemblance with an old and nasty stereotype.
The ad agency and the bank knew what they were thinking (I'm sure this was inadvertant, their quick apology is sufficient and puts it to rest for me) but they didn't realize how easily it could be interpreted otherwise.
The Wanted poster is such a common cliche that it isn't a clue that the entire context is Old West; the model's appearance, dress, and mannerisms are clues to the viewer that he's a traditional Orthodox Jew.
Daniel, I inadvertantly deleted your comment. I apologize.
Daniel's comment asked what Amanda thought of the picture, except he said it a lot better than that.
Thanks, Amanda! There's a picture of it here: http://www.theforecaster.net/story.php?storyid=9613. I didn't use it because I couldn't find any copyright info on it. I also just realized that the resources links go to AC's front page. Hmmm.
I can understand the first instance, but I'd have to see the second instance to make a judgement. After all, I could look at any given picture, say it looks like my Italian grandfather, and cry anti-something or other (especially if it was of a hairy mobster). Great article writing! :)