B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:
In the June 28 edition of Tribune Co. newspapers, a crossword puzzle was distributed which used the clue “Shylock, e.g.” with a corresponding answer of “Jew.” B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin wrote Peter Liguori, president and chief executive officer of Tribune to express outrage over the deeply offensive word choice.
B’nai B’rith is pleased to learn that Tribune has since apologized for the offensive term and B’nai B’rith has accepted the apology.
Managing Editor of Tribune Content Agency Mary Elson wrote B’nai B’rith offering remorse for the term’s appearance and pledging vigilance that such a matter would not occur again.
In the letter Elson said: “The puzzle should not have been distributed with that clue and answer, and I sincerely apologize for the offense it caused. The issue has been discussed with the creators and editors involved, and the clue will not be used again in a Tribune Content Agency puzzle.
We are sensitive to racial and cultural references in the content we distribute, and we regret that this slipped through without the proper review.”
B’nai B’rith is encouraged by Elson’s note and Tribune’s commitment to avoiding future religious, racial or cultural affronts.
In the June 28 edition of Tribune Co. newspapers, a crossword puzzle was distributed which used the clue “Shylock, e.g.” with a corresponding answer of “Jew.” B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin wrote Peter Liguori, president and chief executive officer of Tribune to express outrage over the deeply offensive word choice.
B’nai B’rith is pleased to learn that Tribune has since apologized for the offensive term and B’nai B’rith has accepted the apology.
Managing Editor of Tribune Content Agency Mary Elson wrote B’nai B’rith offering remorse for the term’s appearance and pledging vigilance that such a matter would not occur again.
In the letter Elson said: “The puzzle should not have been distributed with that clue and answer, and I sincerely apologize for the offense it caused. The issue has been discussed with the creators and editors involved, and the clue will not be used again in a Tribune Content Agency puzzle.
We are sensitive to racial and cultural references in the content we distribute, and we regret that this slipped through without the proper review.”
B’nai B’rith is encouraged by Elson’s note and Tribune’s commitment to avoiding future religious, racial or cultural affronts.