Story Archive

Fifty Shades of Newsprint

Iowa’s Des Moines Register newspaper has declined to apologize to readers offended by its front-page story on sexual bondage. The paper chose a female executive, Amalie Nash, to explain to readers that with the Fifty Shades of Grey movie coming out, “we knew many readers would be talking about it,” Nash said. “We certainly were not alone in our coverage; media across the country published stories for days, and a dominatrix dressed in full gear was on the ‘Today’ show last week.” She did, however, acknowledge that “Some readers believe strongly that only hard news should be on the front page.” (RC/Des Moines Register) ...Though as some readers got into the story’s details, it seemed to get harder and harder.