NYT STORY 'PITCHED'? Rhodes, Maddow, Air America Get Soft Times Treatment

The Radio Equalizer- Brian Maloney ^ | November 15th, 2005 | Brian Maloney

[chuckpez]

Was Sunday's upbeat New York Times piece on Air America hosts Rachel Maddow and Randi Rhodes at least partly the result of a "pitch" by the liberal radio network's public relations department?

Could that make "They Look Nothing Like Rush Limbaugh" the result of a corporate spin campaign? Is that journalism?

After receiving a document-backed inside tip, the Radio Equalizer is investigating whether Air America's Jamie Horn convinced New York Times reporter Susan Brenna to write a self-serving piece on Air America's female hosts.

Should America's third-largest newspaper allow reporters to accept story ideas from PR flaks? Or is that better suited for small-town shopper publications?

[Owl558]

GASP!!

[chuckpez]

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[chuckpez]

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[joesbucks]

Well I don't know, but last summer Rush Limbaugh and his syndicator were issuing PR pieces through the PR newswire concerning the Spring ratings that were picked up by various papers. They also did the same thing with his drug treatment announcement to his audience.

You remember that unrehearsed, straight from the heart leveling he gave his audience. We when he began, not after, but as it was being given, the full text of his comments were made available on the PR newswire.