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In response to a letter-writing campaign initiated by FAIR, New York Times senior news editor Bill Borders sent this letter (or a variation of it) to several activists:

I have your correspondence about our coverage of the protest demonstrations that coincided with the inauguration of President Bush on Jan. 20.  I am sorry we disappointed you.  But it seems to me that your objection confuses the fact of this, or any, protest demonstration with the events that the demonstrators are protesting against.

The marchers in Washington and elsewhere on Jan. 20 were protesting the irregularities of Bush's election, which we have covered extensively almost every day since Nov. 7.  All the Florida electoral peculiarities have been front page news.

In general, we devote more space to events, developments and situations than to demonstrations protesting (or supporting) the events, developments and situations.  One reason for this is that the demonstrations are staged events, designed to be covered.  So, as we did with this one, we cover them, but modestly.  I think our coverage of this demonstration, both on the front page and with the full article inside, was appropriate to the event.

This modest coverage of the demonstration, a staged event, is wholly separate from our coverage of the details of the election.  That has been, of course, considerably more substantial.

I assure you that our coverage the Bush presidency will continue to be as vigorous and independent as you might expect.  I appreciate your writing, and holding us to a high standard.