Powered by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Web Search by YAHOO!
 
The Biz Beat

Posted: 2:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Rolling Stone defends mag cover; CVS, Walgreens drop edition on Boston Marathon suspect 

  • comment(47)

Related

Rolling Stone magazine photo
The August issue of Rolling Stone magazine features a self-taken photo of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its latest cover.

By Christopher Seward

(Updated 6:36 p.m.)

Rolling Stone magazine defended its August cover featuring a photo of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev even as retailers, including  the CVS and Walgreens drug store chains,  have dropped the issue from their racks after a flood of complaints on social media.

In a statement Wednesday, Rolling Stone said: "Our hearts go out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and our thoughts are always with them and their families. The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone's long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day.

“The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens."

The magazine’s cover features a self-photo taken by Tsarnaev to promote a feature chronicling his life and events leading up to the April 15  killings marathon injuries. Critics say the photo glorifies the alleged teen killer. 

CVS, which has multiple locations in metro Atlanta, is based in Rhode Island and has 7,000 stores nationwide. In a statement, the company said it has “deep roots in New England and a strong presence in Boston.”

“We believe this is the right decision out of respect for the victims of the attack and their loved ones,” the company said.

CVS competitor Walgreens also is dropping the edition, tweeting: "Walgreens will not be selling this issue of Rolling Stone magazine."

Other retailers are bound to follow suit. A New England-based grocery chain, Tedeschi Foods, also is refusing to sell the magazine.

The New York Post said Rolling Stone is giving the bombing suspect "the cover boy treatment."  Recent covers have featured singers Rihanna and Justin Bieber, and  actor Johnny Depp.

What do you think about the retailers' decision to drop the August edition and Rolling Stone's explanation?

My YahooRSS

About Christopher Seward

Christopher Seward is a South Carolina native and Atlanta journalist who has worked at the AJC since 1989.

Connect with Christopher Seward on:Twitter

Send Christopher Seward an email.

  • comment(47)

 

Today on MyAJC.com

Things to in Atlanta this weekend: Boz Scaggs at Atlanta Botanical Gardens, a huge model train show, Howard Alden jazz in Roswell, Yacht Rock Revue at Chastain, a restaurant review of Del Frisco's

Things to do: Get ideas for the weekend, including Boz Scaggs in concert, a big model train show and tempting desserts

Our full Friday Go Guide is available online to AJC subscribers. Get Melissa Ruggieri's music picks, dining (and dessert) reviews, plus previews of the weekend's top events.

aaron murray focal

Jeff Schultz: Georgia Bulldogs could be headed for a break-through season

The AJC's Jeff Schultz offers a few significant reasons why -- despite the difficult, uphill start to the 2013 schedule -- this could be a special season for the Dogs.

042813 airport27

County by county: News from your community, updated every day

Today's headlines include: New Decatur trails are in design stage, Airport completes Concourse D expansion, Fulton graduates named Merit Scholars, Marietta man guilty of child molestation

Top news now from the AJC

Flooding near airport

Severe storm, flash flood warnings posted as strong thunderstorms develop over metro Atlanta

Severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings were posted for parts of metro Atlanta Saturday afternoon as strong storms developed across the area, injuring several people when a tarpaulin collapsed at a Carroll County park.