New York Times Staff Memo from "Arthur, Howell, & Gerald" (The Smoking Gun)

The Smoking Gun ^ | May 12, 2003

[PJ-Comix]

MAY 12--Apparently we weren't the only ones who thought that yesterday's New York Times examination of Jayson Blair's fabrications fell a bit short when it came to the brass taking responsibility for the scandal (geez, they moved Blair around the Times like Cardinal Law shuffled priests in Boston). This afternoon, Times staffers received the below memo from "Arthur, Howell & Gerald"--that would be publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr., executive editor Howell Raines, and managing editor Gerald Boyd--noting that the ruling triumvirate accepted responsibility for the monumental fiasco. "In the case of Jayson Blair, our organizational safeguards and our individual responses were insufficient. Howell, Gerald and I accept responsibility for that." In Sunday's front-page story, Sulzberger is quoted as saying, "Let's not begin to demonize our executives--either the desk editors or the executive editor or, dare I say, the publisher." On a final note, Arthur might consider running future staff memos through spell check, because it "bears" repeating.

[PJ-Comix]

Yesterday they placed all the blame on Jayson Blair. Since that didn't fly with the public they did a U-turn today.

[coloradan]

... the most valuable asset we have is the trust of our readers and our reputation with the public.

Don't worry, your reputation is unchanged by the latest scandal. Our trust in you remains at the same level it has been at for years.

[PJ-Comix]

This is what Pinch Sulzberger said last weekend:

"The person who did this is Jayson Blair," he said. "Let's not begin to demonize our executives — either the desk editors or the executive editor or, dare I say, the publisher."

That evasion of responsibility was so sharply criticized that they now release a memo sort of saying that they accept responsibility. Hey, Howell, if you accept responsibilty then you need to RESIGN!

[Miss Marple]

HAR! "Bares" repeating!

I would like to know how they can justify anyone believing ANYTHING they say! They are liars, and they hire and promote liars.

[churchillbuff]

This clarion acceptable of accountability ranks right up there with the classic, "MISTAKES WERE MADE."

"The buck stops somewhere"

[coloradan]

"The buck stopped. We have top people attempting to ascertain its location."

[Tacis]

Nah, they were just trying to cover their butts like all outfits do. They fired Blair because he was an uppity black who made some of the stodgy old leftists look worse than they really were. Blair was fired because he is black and The Times had to journalisticly fabricated some ethical journalistic silliness to try to shift the blame.

The next ploy if the unethical journalistic conduct (what could that not cover) will be to tar Blair with dishonesty. The next step is to claim that Blair submitted expense accounts for stuff he didn't do or double billed the company. Blair was black while on duty and, worse, uppity black while on duty, and had to go. It may also be that Blair put some moves on some guy on The Times payroll that was already spoken for by one of Arthur, Howell or Gerald and that contributed to the journalistic uppitiness.

[Petronski]

On a final note, Arthur might consider running future staff memos through spell check, because it "bears" repeating.

Bwa ha ha ha!

[timydnuc]

This story is getting some mighty big legs, and this is good. How many of us here have known for how many years that the NYT is the bastian of marxism? Let me put that a different way (for counting purposes), how many people here did NOT know the above? Let's see....one, two,..you in the back, are you holding up your hand. Oh, I see, just scratching your arm pit, ok.

Give me a break, this is the rule at the NYT, by no means the exception.

Once, on a fishing trip in upper Canada, we ran out of TP. One of liberal friends had brought along a copy of the NYT. He was overpowered by 3 conservatives (much bigger than he) and the NYT served the only purpose I would ever use it for, in a pinch. You might say that the liberal Clymers (of the Slimes) met the conservative clymers head on, and wiped us clean!

The big reason that the old time, socialist, print media is hitting the skids is because of the truth factor of the internet and talk radio. The people have seen their hayday but it is gone. Bubbye NYT! The Old Gray Whore is dying from within, and none to soon for me. I'll just miss the toilet paper.

[edwin hubble]

"HAR! "Bares" repeating! "

It bares repeating...

Yes, its just an email, but My Lord...
What an important email.

That word "bares" jumped out at me from the page.

They are just digging themselves deeper.

[bribriagain]

Looks like the Grey Lady is really a tramp.

[bribriagain]

"Blair was black while on duty and, worse, uppity black while on duty, and had to go."

Nothing could be further from the truth. The Times retained Blair even after he was caught fabricating 50 stories. The Times affirmative action program protects incompetents, pure and simple.

[aristeides]

Spellcheck wouldn't have caught "bares repeating." What expensive college did Pinch study at? (Of course, I have to admit I am capable of making a mistake as dumb as that if I am very short of sleep -- has Pinch been having some sleepless nights?)

[dighton]

This "bares" bumping.

[HardStarboard]

Could have been worse; Jayson could have gotten an affirmative action position in a hospital surgery ward.......

"

[BOBTHENAILER]

THE OLD GREY LADY BARES ALL

SHE HAS AIDS (Aiding International Despots & Socialism)

[mewzilla]

Note to journos: Find out who was protecting Blair and why. Someone was covering his butt.

[PJ-Comix]

If you hire black reporters, you get black reporting. That simple. Bitch of it is, some White guy who could've done ten times the job is waiting tables somewhere. Thanks, Jews.

DUmmy intruder alert! I also note that you just joined FR TODAY. You DUmmies should learn the art of subtlety better and make a FEW credible posts before you start in on your crap.

[habs4ever]

What sewer did you crawl out from?