In case you missed it, on Sunday, April 10, The Boston Globe issued a hypothetical front page showcasing what life would look like if Donald Trump were to become president. A bold headline reads “DEPORTATIONS TO BEGIN,” followed by a series of stories about sinking markets, an outrageous new libel law and Trump potentially landing on the Nobel prize short list. This satirical look at modern American politics divided readers:

PATHETIC @BostonGlobe @GlobeOpinion YOU are not journalists. Read this and try to be educated. https://t.co/4sKlpxNf5Z

— Robert Neville (@OmegaMan58) April 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/MarkSlaughter8/status/719232000037634048

@greta Quite funny to be honest. If it's clearly opinion, what's the harm?

— Chris (@lindhartsen) April 10, 2016

@BostonDotCom Not a Trump supporter, but I have to ask – is @BostonGlobe planning to do the same for all other candidates? #mediabias

— Susan Blanker (@SBlanker) April 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/NAXALTbro_/status/719195542455238656
Supporters don’t see anything wrong with it: it’s clearly an editorial piece, similar to what they run on a daily basis, plus, they’ve already endorsed Hillary Clinton, so it’s no surprise to see a story with such disdain for the front-running GOP candidate.
Those who denounce the special edition cite the Society for Professional Journalists’ code of ethics, which says journalists should “Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it. Use original sources whenever possible,” and “ Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.”  Clearly, this 4/9/2017 Globe front page wasn’t exactly accurate and is slightly pandering to the absurdity of this year’s election.
What are your thoughts about this hot journalistic topic? Was it within the Globe’s editorial rights or did it cross the line? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter @BIGfishPR.