Posted on 07/20/2004 2:46:05 PM PDT by Republican Red
Dear (Republican Red);
I can understand your reaction. The Berger story was badly underplayed, but not out of any evil intent. The news broke very late last night, and editors rushed just a few paragraphs into the paper -- all they had at the time.
I can assure you that we will be following this news much more fully in tomorrow's paper and thereafter.
Thanks for writing, and for holding us to a high standard.
Best, Bill Borders, senior editor, The New York Times.
USA Today managed to have it on the front page.
Should I reply to this letter or let it go? The "thanks for holding us up to a higher standards" truly made me want to hurt somebody.
borders@nytimes.com
Well, let's see what they do tomorrow.
Take them at their word for now, then see how they handle it in tomorrow's editions. You'll have a far stronger case against them if tomorrow they bury it yet again. Reacting now doesn't accomplish much.
It's a fair reply from the times. Let's see tomorrow.
"The Berger story was badly underplayed, but not out of any evil intent."
What did you write that provoked this response?
If it wasn't something in response to your email, well, the NYT just gave away the farm.
Like if it was Bush's advisor they wouldn't hold the delivery trucks and rerun page 1.
Like others said, wait until tomorrow. If they emphasize the so-called suspect timing, then blast 'em again.
It's significant that the NYT thought enough of your criticism to reply rather than blow you off, but substantively, the response is pure smoke.
"let it go"
It did come out late last night, and it was almost to crazy to believe.
Well, look, let's be fair. I mean, how could they possibly put it on the front page - then where would they put story #3,489 about the Iraq prison scandel?
I haven't got an e-mail back yet, but I blasted them good for printing breaking news back on A-17...I said "I realize that 99% of your staff are democrats, but breaking news BELONGS ON THE FRONT PAGE! then I proceeded to wish them bankrupcy and a takeover by someone like Rupert Murdoch!" Do you think I'll get a response?
Let it go and take them at their word. It is a page 1 story. If it makes page 1 tomorrow, then the writer was sincere.
Let it go for today. Judging from your profile page, I'm assuming you read the National Edition of the NYT, which "goes to bed" pretty early the night before. They honestly wouldn't have had much time to throw together much more than a quick rewrite of an AP wire story.
Take Borders at his word for now. There is no way they will be able to refrain from putting this one page one tomorrow, IMHO. But if it does get buried tomorrow, then you'll have every reason to go off on him in another email.
One man on the job will save 'paper'.....!
/sarcasm
(Go Felix)
When the NY TIMES says that, you can be sure they've already been given the go-ahead to make Berger a sacrificial lamb!
Seems like it will be. They did a larger story earlier today and have since updated it. The story still leans left, but is not as sanitized as the story that broke on page A17 today, where they neglected to report that some of the documents had never been found.
I do think it's bull that the story broke too late last night though. If memory serves, the AP story ran around 8 PM last night. They had four hours to get a story filed in time to make most editions. The problem for the Slimes is this story won't go away as they would like and they have to report on it -- and give it the appropriate front-page prominence in tomorrow's paper.
ROTFLOL!!!!! I don't know if they will respond, but I will. You made my day!!!!!! ahahahahahahaha! That's great!
How come that I heard about it yesterday, afternoon. That's not late at night, even on the East coast.
I wrote the LA TIMES earlier today as they buried it with two paragraphs on P. A13. Told them that if USA TODAY could get this onto the front page, so could a paper on West Coast time.
Rec'd a similarly wimpy response that there would be more coverage in coming days.
I'd like to know why the NYT omitted the detail that Berger stuffed papers in his pants...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.