The “New York Times” profiled a Nazi sympathizer, and the journalist who wrote the story is now addressing the backlash

Sometimes, even the best journalists don’t get it right. The The New York Times was accused of normalizing white nationalismafter profiling a Nazi sympathizer on November 25th.

The story in question was written by Richard Fausset, and is about Tony Hovater, a Nazi sympathizer living in Ohio. Fausset’s piece does not discuss the dangers of the white nationalist (aka white supremacist) movement, and instead focuses on Hovater’s everyday life. The profile opens by detailing Hovater’s wedding registry and describes Hovater as “polite and low-key.” Later, Fausset includes a quote from Hovater in which he says he approaches white nationalism in a “mid-90s, Jewish, New York, observational humor way.”

Readers criticized Fausset’s portrayal of Hovater as just an average guy, and many wrote that the article normalized white supremacy while trivializing Hovater’s prejudiced views. Some also noted that the piece failed to say anything new about white nationalists.

The journalist in me understands that your job sometimes is to explain why awful people are so awful. It’s a delicate process. It’s a fine line between explaining and giving hateful people a platform that normalizes their hate. Swing and a miss, here https://t.co/KkEE2rmhTv

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) November 25, 2017

false

All 4 of my grandparents were concentration camp survivors. Most of their families–parents, siblings, children–perished.

But thank you @nytimes for sharing the story of a Nazi's fear that anti-fascist protestors would disrupt his wedding. How rude! https://t.co/TjUXWcMRjV

— Andrei Cherny (@AndreiCherny) November 26, 2017

It's critical for the press, when covering professional hatemongers, to avoid treating the abnormal as normal or to humanize the inhumane. By that basic measure, I'd score this @NYTimes piece: #Nazis– 1, @Public– 0. https://t.co/ydUIv9b7G6

— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) November 25, 2017

"We described Mr. Hovater as a bigot, a Nazi sympathizer who posted images on Facebook of a Nazi-like America full of happy white people and swastikas everywhere," The Times's national editor wrote in response to backlash from readers. "We understand that some readers wanted more pushback, and we hear that loud and clear."

Fausset also attempted to justify the piece, writing an editorial explaining his approach. He explains that in profiling Hovater, he wanted to explore the motives of a white supremacist, but after his initial meeting with Hovater, he realized he didn’t get the information he needed. In a follow-up phone call with Hovater, he said he still didn’t find his answers.

"I beat myself up about all of this for a while, until I decided that the unfilled hole would have to serve as both feature and defect," Fausset ultimately concluded.

While we understand what Fausset was attempting to do, at the end of the day, he — and The New York Times — made a serious oversight. White nationalism is dangerous and antithetical to a free, tolerant, and safe society for all, and that should always be made clear.

In the profile, Hovater noted that one of the goals of the white nationalist movement is to get the general public to view it, as well as Nazi sympathizers, as normal. By not challenging Hovater’s views in their profile, The Times gavewhite supremacists exactly what they want. We should use Fausset’s mistake — and the general public’s response to it — as a reminder to stay vigilant.