EDITOR’S NOTE: Last Wednesday, newspapers across America reported that Hillary Clinton had secured the Democratic Party nomination for president. The night she did, former President Bill Clinton spoke to the party’s delegates; Hillary Clinton was not at the convention site.
The following comments take issue with the Gazette’s decision to run a front-page photograph of the former president and not at least a file photo of the current candidate.
‘Clinton wins historic nomination” A history-making event. Yet whose picture is on the front page? Her husband. Yes, he gave a great speech. Yes, he is a former president. Where is Hillary Clinton’s photograph? She is the nominee. Her picture is nowhere to be seen.
Marianne Banks
Leeds
I am surprised and disappointed that the morning after Hillary Clinton, the first woman in history to receive the nomination from the Democratic Party for president of the United States, a picture of Bill Clinton covers half of the front page of the July 27 edition of the Gazette.
USA Today got it right.
The Gazette was in step with the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and the Wall Street Journal.
The Gazette should have run a picture of the woman who received the nomination.
Jan Luzzi
Florence
My 6-year-old son looked over my shoulder as I read the front page of the Gazette at the start of the DNC. He looked specifically at the photograph. He said, “Those are Bernie signs, Mommy. Where are the Hillary signs?”
I launched into a far-too-long and far-too-complex description of media bias. His eyes glazed over and he resumed playing with his LEGOs.
Last Wednesday morning I eagerly awaited the paper to see the front page photo of the woman who has become the first woman in the entire history of this country to win a major party nomination for president of the United States.
Ever. In the entire history. There have been no others. It was the same thing I waited for after she originally secured (though not officially) the required number of delegates. Both times, I was sorely disappointed. The irony of this morning’s headline (“Clinton wins historic nomination”) followed by a picture of Bill Clinton talking to the crowds was disheartening (though I attempted to comfort myself — at least it wasn’t a picture of Bernie).
But, really? Unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised. It seems to be routine for this particular election season. Even in this corner of the world where “the coffee is strong and so are the women.” I hope, one morning, to go to my mailbox and see the face of our future POTUS on the front page. Though I shouldn’t have to hope.
Alice Barber
Easthampton
History is made by a woman. Whose face is below the banner headline? Not Hillary’s. Her husband’s.
Is the article about Hillary’s history-making accomplishment or her husband’s historical speech in support of her? I open the paper to hopefully see Hillary’s face on an interior page, and I see her daughter. What’s up, Gazette? This is very disappointing journalism.
Burleigh Muten
Amherst