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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/03/new-zealand-newspaper-publishes-cartoon-mocking-samoa-measles-crisis
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New Zealand newspaper publishes cartoon mocking Samoa measles crisis | New Zealand newspaper publishes cartoon mocking Samoa measles crisis |
(about 16 hours later) | |
Otago Daily Times criticised for cartoon joking about measles outbreak that has killed 55 | Otago Daily Times criticised for cartoon joking about measles outbreak that has killed 55 |
A New Zealand newspaper has caused outrage for publishing a cartoon that made light of the measles crisis engulfing Samoa, which has killed 55 people so far, most of them children under the age of four. | A New Zealand newspaper has caused outrage for publishing a cartoon that made light of the measles crisis engulfing Samoa, which has killed 55 people so far, most of them children under the age of four. |
The Otago Daily Times published the cartoon in Tuesday’s newspaper from artist Garrick Tremain, which depicted two white women walking out of a travel agent, one saying to the other: “I asked ‘What are the least popular spots at the moment?’ She said: ‘The ones people are picking up in Samoa.’” | |
The newspaper issued an apology on Tuesday afternoon, saying, “The content and timing of the cartoon were insensitive, and we apologise without reservation for publishing it.” | The newspaper issued an apology on Tuesday afternoon, saying, “The content and timing of the cartoon were insensitive, and we apologise without reservation for publishing it.” |
Samoa has been gripped by a devastating measles outbreak over the past six weeks. There have been almost 4,000 confirmed cases in a country of just 200,000 people and 55 people have died, 50 of them children under four. | Samoa has been gripped by a devastating measles outbreak over the past six weeks. There have been almost 4,000 confirmed cases in a country of just 200,000 people and 55 people have died, 50 of them children under four. |
The paper’s editor, Barry Stewart, added in the apology that he would review the paper’s selection process for cartoons. | The paper’s editor, Barry Stewart, added in the apology that he would review the paper’s selection process for cartoons. |
Stewart acknowledged the outbreak meant people were suffering “real hurt and real tragedy”. | Stewart acknowledged the outbreak meant people were suffering “real hurt and real tragedy”. |
“This should have been our starting point when considering publishing the cartoon. That it was not was a deeply regrettable error in judgment,” he wrote. | “This should have been our starting point when considering publishing the cartoon. That it was not was a deeply regrettable error in judgment,” he wrote. |
The cartoon provoked outrage on Twitter. | The cartoon provoked outrage on Twitter. |
A New Zealand journalist, Michael Field, who has an written a book on Samoa, called the paper “nasty and cruel”. | A New Zealand journalist, Michael Field, who has an written a book on Samoa, called the paper “nasty and cruel”. |
“They have a cartoon that mocks Samoa for its pain. What other newspaper would laugh at dead children?” he wrote. | “They have a cartoon that mocks Samoa for its pain. What other newspaper would laugh at dead children?” he wrote. |
Anna Powles, a senior lecturer in Pacific security at Massey University in New Zealand, wrote that the newspaper had only issued a “half-baked apology” for what was a “disgraceful” and “absolutely abhorrent” cartoon. | Anna Powles, a senior lecturer in Pacific security at Massey University in New Zealand, wrote that the newspaper had only issued a “half-baked apology” for what was a “disgraceful” and “absolutely abhorrent” cartoon. |
This article was amended on 3 December 2019 to correct the name of the cartoonist, who was previously identified as Chris Tremain. |