I
READ [the Air Force News, August 11] edition, and was very
disappointed with the headline “Battle of the Bulge”
on the Letters to the Editor page. A letter to the editor
also appeared, which queried the disparity in paid maternity
leave between APS and ADF members.
The headline appeared above a photograph of a pregnant servicewoman’s
torso. I found both the headline and the photograph to be
in poor taste. Pregnant members of the ADF face enough low-level
(but none-the-less potentially upsetting and totally inappropriate)
harassment about their size/shape/condition/weight gain, without
further harassment appearing to be sanctioned in the Service
newspaper.
I am disappointed to think that the Air Force News is willing
to join in on the low level harassment of pregnant women in
return for a catchy headline.
WGCDR Susan Stothart
Office of DGPers-Air Force
Editor’s response: The
issue of ethics in dealing with printed material is one taken
very seriously by Air Force News.
The photograph in question was printed, with the permission
of the pregnant Air Force member photographed, in a health
story on maintaining fitness during pregnancy that appeared
in the March 11, 2004 edition of Air Force News.
The person featured in the photo gave approval for its reprinting
in this year’s August 11 edition, and also reviewed the
finished page, including the headline, before printing. Wing
Commander Stothart’s concern on the behalf of the member
appears unwarranted in this case.
Although, according to Wing Commander Stothart, pregnant members
of the ADF are harassed about their condition, neither the
photograph, nor headline, were intended to harass or offend.
The headline was a pun, referring to the “battle”
some ADF members fight for the same paid maternity leave as
their APS counterparts, which was the subject of the letter.
