An Atlanta-area writer quit as a contributing editor for an automotive website over an article and headline by the editor-in-chief that he considers offensive.
Prominent journalism blogger Jim Romenesko reports the situation and links to the article at TheTruthAboutCars.com that provoked Steven Lang's resignation.
Lang, a paid writer for the site since 2007, announced his departure Friday afternoon on Facebook:
"I have officially resigned my editor position at The Truth About Cars. If you want to know why, read this article."
Bertel Schmitt in Facebook photo.
The May 16 piece by Bertel Schmitt, who joined the site in 2008 and became top editor in 2011, is headlined "Small SUV Crashopalooza: Detroit Loses, Dykes Win."
Schmitt reports on SUV crash ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which ranks the 2014 Subaru Forester as the category's safest vehicle. He describes that model as one "driven by post-menopausal lesbians," a description attributed to the Urban Dictionary slang site, and writes:
Boo, hiss, Detroit – pussy-whipped by a Japanese transgender crossover that is also known as a "vag-wag?"
The post, which drew more than 240 comments by late Friday afternoon, is at a nine-year-old site that belongs to the AutoGuide.com group. Schmitt, who is based in Tokyo, is a former Volkswagen executive and ad agency owner.
Lang, who was one of five writers listed as contributing editors, is a used car dealer and auctioneer in Powder Springs, Ga., near Atlanta. Supportive comments under his Facebook posts include one from Toronto automotive journalist Lesley Wimbush, who says in part:
"I have a good appreciation for clever snark, but meanness and sensationalism just to generate clicks isn't my thing."
-- Alan Stamm
