Michael Eisen / Screengrab by the use of eLife Youtube
Michael Eisen was once dismissed from his place as editor-in-chief of Cambridge-based totally science journal eLife after sharing a piece of writing from online satire website online The Onion that “calls out indifference to the lives of Palestinian civilians.”
Eisen, also a geneticist on the College of California, introduced his firing on Monday on social platform X.
He wrote: “I’ve been informed that I am being replaced because the Editor in Chief of @eLife for retweeting a @TheOnion piece that calls out indifference to the lives of Palestinian civilians.”
I’ve been informed that I’m being replaced because the Editor in Chief of @eLife for retweeting a @TheOnion piece that calls out indifference to the lives of Palestinian civilians.
— Michael Eisen (@mbeisen) October 23, 2023
The scientist had confronted criticism from inside the e-newsletter’s masthead for sharing an article:
Michael Eisen’s retweet of The Onion / Screengrab by way of @mbeisen
Expressing his admiration for The Onion: “The Onion speaks with more braveness, insight and moral clarity than the leaders of every educational institution put collectively. I want there was a @TheOnion university.”
Going through criticism, Eisen clarified his position, declaring, “Every sane particular person on Earth is horrified and traumatised by using what Hamas did and needs it to never occur again.”
He persisted: “…The Onion isn’t making gentle of the placement. And nor am I. These articles are the usage of satire to make a deadly severe point about this horrific tragedy.”
The controversy led some researchers to demand Eisen’s resignation and recommend for a boycott of eLife.
In a countering transfer, a petition entreated eLife’s publisher, the Howard Hughes Scientific Institute (HHMI), to not penalise Eisen. Petitioners stated, “Our stance just isn’t in keeping with the deserves of Eisen’s views. Quite, we believe that penalising Eisen would set up a discouraging precedent for freedom of expression in academia.”
In protest of Eisen’s firing, fellow editor Lara City has also resigned.
It’s with great sadness that I’ve to resign as @eLife editor and early-profession advisor after @mbeisen used to be fired as editor-in-chief for making use of his freedom of speech to face up – once again – for the people who were silenced. A quick observation right here: https://t.co/VN1H5wJZO1 percenttwitter.com/BV17wLId2f
— Lara City (@LaraUrban42) October 23, 2023
eLife has no longer replied to Mediaite UK’s request for remark.
The submit eLife Editor-In-Chief Michael Eisen Fired Over Satirical Gaza Retweet first regarded on Mediaite.