New York Times coverage of Berkeley tragedy labelled 'a disgrace'
The Minister of State for Equality has labelled one American report on the tragedy in Berkeley as "a disgrace".
Aodhan Ó Riordain has criticised the on Twitter, which claims the J1 visa programme has become "a source of embarrassment for Ireland".
The report notes how the birthday party in Berkeley, which was taking place when the balcony collapsed, had been loud and kept neighbours awake.
.@nytimes Your newspaper's reporting of the #Berkeley tragedy is a disgrace.
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) June 17, 2015
"I think it would be the right thing to do to withdraw that report and apologise," the minister said. "We have six Irish people who are now dead as a result of a tragedy because a balcony collapsed. No other reason.
"The nature and tone of the article is a disgrace … newspaper editors need to realise how sensitive this issue is."
MORE: Families to learn cause of Berkeley tragedy as tributes pour in
In today's edition, the newspaper wrote that "the work-visa program that allowed for the exchanges has in recent years become not just a source of aspiration, but also a source of embarrassment for Ireland.
"[It has been] marked by a series of high-profile episodes involving drunken partying and the wrecking of apartments in places like San Francisco and Santa Barbara."
The paper then reported the facts of the tragedy before returning to the issue of J1 visas, citing a column for written a year ago which mentioned "the callous destruction unleashed by these loaded Irish students" of a San Francisco home.
It also referenced a "work-hard, party-hard lifestyle" and "requests for house party sites".
Minister O'Riordain was joined by many others on the social network who were critical of the for linking a tragedy in which six lost their lives to a destructive, partying lifestyle.
Maybe @nytimes could wait more than 24 hrs before using drunken Paddy stereotype to apportion blame to dead students http://t.co/b8fTFoo0rp
— Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) June 17, 2015
Poor taste @nytimes - blame negligent building maintenance for the #Berkeley tragedy, not the victims https://t.co/3KUTfSq7t2
— Ailbhe Jordan (@amjordo) June 17, 2015
Completely unnecessary tone of blame on students from @nytimes this morning, especially as families try to comprehend the tragedy #Berekeley
— Fiona Donnellan (@fionadonnellan) June 17, 2015
Breathtaking bit of victim-blaming from @nytimes today. Neatly piles onto 6 families' & a nation's grief, blaming party rather than building
— Órfhlaith Ní C (@OrfhlaithNiC) June 17, 2015
Anyone unhappy with *that* New York Times article about Berkeley can contact the public editor (@Sulliview) about it: http://t.co/OixmzKMBVz
— Christine Bohan (@ChristineBohan) June 17, 2015
After the controversy exploded on social media in Ireland, the public editor of the , Margaret Sullivan, said she was investigating the issue.
"Sincere sympathy to all affected by #Berkeley tragedy. Please know that I am aware of reaction and will look into it today," she tweeted.
Sincere sympathy to all affected by #Berkeley tragedy. Please know that I am aware of reaction and will look into it today.
— Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) June 17, 2015
The Public Editor's role is to act independently of the newspaper's editors and reporters, deal with reader questions, and "investigate matters of journalistic integrity".
Ms Sullivan has been a juror on the Pulitzer Prize Board - for the world's most prestigious journalism prize - four times.
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Ireland has defended the J1 Visa programme. Kevin O'Malley said the programme has always enjoyed huge support on both sides of the Atlantic.
"Yesterday's tragedy is almost unspeakable, but 150,000 Irish students have participated in this programme over the years … and the programme has been widely successful," he said.
