As many of you know, the respected newspaper The New York Times has posted an early review and more details of the plot of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As many of the staff here has worked in media or journalism at some time, we’re very disappointed in these actions and make this post as a full staff. From your emails and notes, we know you are disappointed, too. If you would like to express your disappointment to the newspaper, do so at letters@nytimes.com. In fact, if you would like a letter to copy and paste, or use to work from and add your own sentiments, please feel free to use the below. We’ve just sent ours off, and hope you will do the same.
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to express my disappointment that your publication printed an early review and details of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This goes against the express wishes of the author and anyone that calls themselves a true Harry Potter fan.
It is hard enough for a Harry Potter fan to avoid spoilers on the Internet and news stations now that the book appears to have leaked; now we have to avoid trusted outlets as well. You’ve not only disappointed millions of children around the world with your actions, you have disappointed the millions of adults who look to the New York Times to be a bastion of good taste and standards. When the New York Times succumbs to such tabloid tactics, who won’t?
Many ask why we care – why fans aren’t all so rabid to get the book that we’ll sop up any illegal download or purchase. There’s one simple answer: We respect the author. We thought that a newspaper like yours, where so many of your reporters become authors themselves, would understand and respect that. We’re so saddened that we were wrong. We feel let down by you and your editorial board.
Sincerely,
Your name here Harry Potter Fan, and member of Jo’s Army
Maybe we shouldn’t sign our letters with the words “member of Jo’s Army”. We are not in a war, just simply stating how disappointed we are. In my opinion it just sounds childish, which doesn’t contribute to our intentions at all.
Thank you so much for doing this Melissa. The letter is incredibly well-written and very professional. I am simply in shock that the NY Times would do something like this. I know they’ve lost credibility with me. Have you (Melissa) been able to avoid all of the spoilers? I sure hope so. Btw, I sent my letter off early this morning!
I couldn’t believe it when i saw it…I am sooo disappointed in the NYT. I just sent my letter and asked all my friends to join in, even though not potter fans. This is just bad journalism.
Awesome! I’m not a fan of the NY Times to begin with but I always figured deep down they were trying to do good in their own twisted way but this is just low. I hope their own kids don’t read their paper.
Ashame what some people will do with no regard to the pure of spirit.
I’ll be sending that letter from several email addresses.
cmon guys. just 30 hours to go. i suggest we all just hide in a hole and wait until the time comes. i am very disappointed by all this. many of us have been waiting 10 years for this moment and it is being ruined by a supposedly trusty source. So what if they bought the book at a local store? they did not have to review it now.
It’s bad enough when some witless idiot decides to post real or imagined spoilers, but when something so respected as the NYT does it, it’s just so disappointing. Thanks for telling us about it, my letter is on its way.
Hmm.. well, I went and read the review. I don’t believe I’ll be part of the “army” castigating the New York Times for this. I think perhaps we may be getting a little carried away with what constitutes a “spoiler”.
I learned nothing from that review that Jo has not already told us outright or alluded to heavily in interviews. I saw nothing in the article that would “spoil” her surprise ending.
I saw nothing in the article that anyone who has done even the slightest research into the possible meanings of the title has not known since a week after that title was released.
And, frankly, if someone doesn’t want to know anything about the book until they hold it in their hot little hands on the 21st, DON’T READ ARTICLES ABOUT THE BOOK.
For someone like me, who simply doesn’t want to go through the same anger and heartache I went through at the end of the last Narnia novel many years ago, I’d LOVE a true “spoiler” that would tell me if the trio lives or not. If they do not, I’ll be able to stop at book 6 and live happily ever after with the children growing and thriving in my imagination. If they do, I’ll be able to read book 7 with all the relish with which I have devoured her other books. I have seen nothing trustworthy online, in this review or any other that will let me know this one small fact.
The author of this review, I felt, teased us with tiny fragments of information yet told us nothing, much the same way that Jo herself teases us with tidbits. There are no urgent plot points revealed. I thought it was a beautiful and deftly written review that told me nothing I was unaware of already.
I know people on here that refuse to read any of the current “theories” in the TLC forums simply because they don’t want to accidentally happen upon one that may be true and not be surprised at the end of the book. Sheesh people, exercise your right to not read these articles and calm down.
If you don’t want tidbits and teasers, don’t read any of Jo’s interviews, don’t visit her website, don’t work out her puzzles. Don’t interview her at all prior to publication of a book. Don’t read any hints given out by the publishers and don’t read any articles or theories about the books online.
Posted by Mom Weasley aka Jean on July 19, 2007, 03:11 PM
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whether you agree with the information printed by the NYTimess, you cant argue it was bad journalism on their part and a HUGE lack of respect to not only the fans across the world, but to J.K. Rowling herself as an author. She has remained secretive about the novel for a reason, and for a paper to print information regarding the book that has not yet been released to the public is a huge disappointed and let down… no more creditibility with me.
i think a full apology is necessary to J.K. Rowling and the fans who would never have thought the New York times could stoop to such a level.
I just think that people are all getting bent out of shape about an article that contained NO SPOILERS! If any letter writing should be done, it should have been done to the Baltimore Sun starting yesterday. They actually included SPECIFIC details to the story. Not to mention answer the question of what happens to Harry.
Too bad this letter campaign is too little too late.
I sent mine. I left out the Jo’s Army bit, and I added some other bits, but it’s sent. I like and agree with your point about respect for Jo, very much, and although I haven’t read the article (nor any other articles, nor anything online lately at all in an attempt to stay spoiler free), I wanted to let you know that I appreciate your efforts. I will say that I’m sad, though, that something like this is tearing fandom apart, right at this point in time. Very sad indeed.
I just think that people are all getting bent out of shape about an article that contained NO SPOILERS! If any letter writing should be done, it should have been done to the Baltimore Sun starting yesterday. They actually included SPECIFIC details to the story. Not to mention answer the question of what happens to Harry.
Too bad this letter campaign is too little too late.
I sent mine. I left out the Jo’s Army bit, and I added some other bits, but it’s sent. I like and agree with your point about respect for Jo, very much, and although I haven’t read the article (nor any other articles, nor anything online lately at all in an attempt to stay spoiler free), I wanted to let you know that I appreciate your efforts. I will say that I’m sad, though, that something like this is tearing fandom apart, right at this point in time. Very sad indeed.
Why is everybody getting so fanatical about this? Why are people writing letters without even reading the review in the Times? I read it and agree with the writers above who say that they didn’t learn anything of importance. I hope that after the book comes out, all those people who made fools of themselves by writing to the Times without even reading the article will write another letter to the newpaper apologizing for their silly behaviour.
Very well-written letter.
I actually sent one last night, before I read this. You can read the full thing at my blog: http://my.opera.com/lutherjw