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Editor: Axing Coulter Didn't Cost Me My Job
Editor and Publisher ^ | October 22nd, 2002 | Dave Astor

Posted on 10/22/2002 5:02:32 PM PDT by Gamecock

NEW YORK -- Did "firing" Ann Coulter lead to the departure of the editor who axed her?

"I don't think that had anything to do with it," said Bob Unger, who -- in what he described as a "mutual" decision -- stepped down Monday as executive editor of the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa.

Early last month, Unger dropped Coulter from the newspaper's column lineup, arguing that her syndicated commentary was "mean." This decision infuriated many fans of the conservative Coulter, though Unger said "80 to 85%" of the more than 5,000 e-mails he ultimately received supported his decision. "I know that doesn't represent the general population, but it represented the people who wrote me," he told E&P Online.

So why did Unger and the Centre Daily Times part ways? Unger, who was reached at home, said there was "a difference in style and objective" between him and Henry Haitz, who became publisher of the paper several months ago. Unger declined to give specifics, noting that he was not allowed to do so under his separation agreement.

Unger, who had been executive editor for 2 1/2 years, said he had no immediate job prospects but was working on his second novel.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: colter; leftwingagenda; mediabias
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Mean?
1 posted on 10/22/2002 5:02:32 PM PDT by Gamecock
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To: Gamecock
Yep. Newspapers should only run stories about puppies and kitties and cute bunny rabbits from now on.

2 posted on 10/22/2002 5:04:54 PM PDT by Tony in Hawaii
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To: Gamecock
"What's his name" has had his 15 minutes of fame and is done.

Ann Coulter is still Ann Coulter.

3 posted on 10/22/2002 5:05:25 PM PDT by lonestar
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To: Gamecock
but was working on his second novel.

How did the first one do?

4 posted on 10/22/2002 5:05:38 PM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: Gamecock
Yeah, "mean." You know, attack-blonde. Mean.

Dan
(c;

5 posted on 10/22/2002 5:05:54 PM PDT by BibChr
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To: Gamecock
Unger, who was reached at home, said there was "a difference in style and objective" . . .

'Ya mean the style and objective of a DNC hack wasn't quite what they were after?

6 posted on 10/22/2002 5:05:59 PM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: Gamecock

7 posted on 10/22/2002 5:07:08 PM PDT by The Great Satan
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To: Gamecock
So, is her column now running again?

D
8 posted on 10/22/2002 5:09:08 PM PDT by daviddennis
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To: Gamecock
5,000 e-mails he ultimately received supported his decision. "I know that doesn't represent the general population, but it represented the people who wrote me,"

That is perhaps one of the stupidest things I have come across in text. This guy is, err was, and editor?

9 posted on 10/22/2002 5:10:34 PM PDT by Shryke
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To: Gamecock
I know the story says that there was a confidential separation agreement in place, but this whole piece is just Bob Unger's take on things.
10 posted on 10/22/2002 5:12:56 PM PDT by martin_fierro
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To: Shryke
I sincerely doubt he got 5,000 emails in support. Protestors ALWAYS outnumber supporters. It's human nature.

So, basically I'm accusing him of being a liar.

11 posted on 10/22/2002 5:15:54 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Gamecock
Wow, he cans Coulter and then he gets canned.

That's some serious Schadenfreude we got going there. :)

12 posted on 10/22/2002 5:16:12 PM PDT by Petronski
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To: Gamecock
Ann is quite, um, "incindiary" in her treatment of those who come under her guns. To libs, she is "mean." To us, she's simply outspoken.

I admit sometimes I wish she wouldn't be so angry, but then I read what passes for "reasoned discourse" by the likes of Helen Thomas, Marianne Means (appropriate name), Cynthia Tucker, Gary Trudeau, and others of that ilk, and I realize that Ann is at her "meanest," no worse than they are.

13 posted on 10/22/2002 5:16:17 PM PDT by Illbay
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To: Gamecock
"..."I don't think that had anything to do with it," said Bob Unger, who -- in what he described as a "mutual" decision -- stepped down Monday as executive editor of the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa..."

LOL!

Yeah... 'Mutual'... Right...

Unless he means...

"Unger, get your damn desk cleaned out and get your ass out of here NOW!"

"Yes Sir."

'Mutual'

14 posted on 10/22/2002 5:18:18 PM PDT by DWSUWF
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To: Madame Dufarge
How did the first one do?

I didn't see it on Amazon. Maybe he used a pseudonem? Or maybe it wasn't published? Vanity press? Loser?

15 posted on 10/22/2002 5:21:02 PM PDT by jackbill
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To: Gamecock
I read his drek. He should have resigned in shame for illiteracy. One "fires" an employee, one does not "fire" a columnist who isn't even under contract. If he wants to loosen that term's meaning for rhetorical impact he shouldn't complain when it's turned back against him.
16 posted on 10/22/2002 5:23:25 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Gamecock; SheLion; TLBSHOW
See also:
Ann Coulter Gets Fired...........Again
CentreDaily.com ^ | 3 September 2002
Posted on 09/03/2002 2:28 PM Pacific by SheLion

Editor's File | A letter to Coulter


Dear Ann Coulter:
You're fired.
It's not that extreme viewpoints are unwelcome on the opinion pages of the Centre Daily Times. All political viewpoints, from Cal Thomas on the right to Molly Ivins on the left, are welcome here.

But, we don't welcome haters, Ann, and that's what you are.

Well, you are either a hater or a hypocrite who calls names and spews enmity because you believe it will get your pretty face on television more or sell more copies of your best-selling books.

In either case, we won't be publishing your Friday column anymore . We decided not to publish a piece of yours a few weeks back because it was nothing more than a sexual history of some of your enemies -- i.e., private citizens who dared to give money to the Democrats.

I wrote a column about why we held the piece and told readers then that if you continued to cross the line, we'd can you.

Your Friday column, in which you declared that liberals are "no good," then trashed the entire Kennedy clan as a collection of "heroin addicts, convicted killers, cheaters, bottleggers and dissolute drunks," crossed that line. I'm not going to defend the Kennedy family or liberals; either group can argue with you if they'd like.

But, Ann, you're mean -- vicious, really -- which is why we do not believe that you in any way serve the public good.

On a late summer morning almost a year ago, all of us -- Republicans, Democrats and everyone else -- witnessed what hate is capable of.

Since that day, Americans have tried to remember that they are on the same side, regardless of differences in skin color, nation of origin, religion or political viewpoint. It has not always been easy because, more than ever, those who are different can seem more threatening. But we're trying because what we have in America is worth keeping.

And, Ann, you're not helping. You do nothing to elevate our spirits, to celebrate the great bond that holds us this unruly people together and makes us a nation.

Hate is easy; love is hard.

Our great nation gives you the freedom to hate all you want and even to make a buck off it if you can. But, even better, it gives us the right not to have to listen.

So, Ann, you're fired. I expect some of our readers are going to be mad at us over this, but we hope they'll understand that while we joyfully publish a wide spectrum of political and social viewpoints, we condemn hate where we find it.

You won't miss us much, Ann. Heck, you're rolling in money. And your fans can find your column on the Internet anyway.

We'll start looking for someone to replace you. It won't be easy because you sure are flashy and a lot of folks like flashy. But political conservatism has produced other columnists of merit whose ideas will provide subjects fit for public consumption and debate -- writers who do not believe those who disagree with them are traitors, or worse.

Sincerely,

Bob Unger, executive editor

Bob Unger can be reached by
e-mail at runger@centredaily.com or by phone at 231-4640.

more

17 posted on 10/22/2002 5:23:26 PM PDT by RonDog
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To: Gamecock
but was working on his second novel.

LOL! Let's see....what's it gonna be called....."Ann Coulter is a Big Fat Id"......No, no that won't work. How 'bout "Ann Coulter is a Right-Wing Twiggy With Tourettes", no somebody's used that already, let's see........how 'bout "I Was a Nobody Loser Till I Fired Ann Coulter". Nah, don't like that , too honest..........

18 posted on 10/22/2002 5:24:47 PM PDT by Musket
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To: DWSUWF
LOL! Mutual agreements usually involve a transition period, don't they??? This was effective immediately...

It's a happy day here in Happy Valley - maybe we'll start seeing a little balance again in the CDT.

I'm really glad I posted his "you're fired" piece, and I am very pleased at the outcome - Freepers did it again!

19 posted on 10/22/2002 5:25:20 PM PDT by Kay Ludlow
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To: lonestar
Ann Coulter is still Ann Coulter.

20 posted on 10/22/2002 5:25:59 PM PDT by RonDog
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