You were the Editor

A local politician addresses a group of his constituents and tells a raw, sexual joke in the process. Several in the audience are greatly offended and walk out. Your reporters story of the speech includes a reference to the walkout and retells the joke, with explicit language, so readers can make their own judgments about the protest. Do you:

A.  Decide the joke's impact can only be conveyed by using the exact language, and let it be published, even though you know many readers will be offended.

Readers  38%
Editors  60%

B.  Decide readers don't need to know explicit details and take it out of the story.

Readers  62%
Editors  40%


Readers comments:

"A dirty joke is a dirty joke ? who wants details."

"It has already offended once. Sufficient to say the joke was raw, sexual and ? inappropriate."

"The impact of the story cannot be conveyed unless the story is told, then readers can decide if they would have walked out or not."

"Some people think a joke formula forgives the teller of everything. Giving exact wording (using suitable dashes) may help offenders to see themselves as they are."