New York Times International Editor Michael Slackman was forced to apologize after posting a job advert that was perceived as humiliating to Africans.
In the highly publicized commercial, the advert took a degrading angle of how Africans live, suggesting that the only stories that can be covered in Africa are those focusing on wars, diseases and violence.
The New York Times was looking for the Nairobi Bureau Chief who would cover stories across several countries in the continent.
Thousands of angry netizens took to Twitter to share their sentiments expressing their displeasure regarding the editor's skewed view and take on Africans.
A particular video crafted by a group called the LAM Sisterhood caught the attention of the heavily criticised New York Times boss that he had to apologise.
"Dear Lam Sisterhood. Thank you. I loved it (the video making fun of the job advert) and learned from your dramatic reading. I deserved it," Slackman's post read.
He then went on to explain what aspired before the advert came out.
"That job posting was my doing and I want to explain what happened. We are currently looking for three correspondents to cover Africa and I saw this as an opportunity to find the best there is," he tweeted.
The contrite editor then admitted guilt and stated that he made a mistake when putting up the job posting.
"But I plead guilty to taking a short cut: Rather than write a new job description, a posting from about 18 months went out. I gave it a cursory look, and approved it. Mea Culpa," he apologised.
He affirmed that the publication was committed to Africa because the continent matters.
"As International Editor, I have the privilege to lead one of the finest reporting staffs in the world and NY Times is committed to covering Africa, not as if it were some stereotype, but because it matters," he concluded.
Watch the video done by the LAM Sisterhood here:
