At Reuters, a New Book and a Lost Job

The NYTimes ^ | 10/09/2006 | By NOAM COHEN

[oxcart]

On Tuesday, Joe Maguire, one of two editors in charge of markets coverage at Reuters, handed his bosses the galleys of his new book, “Brainless: The Lies and Lunacy of Ann Coulter.” On Wednesday, Mr. Maguire discovered he would have plenty of free time to promote his book, which comes out this week. Neither side in this dispute would say that he was fired.

“There was a difference of opinion about the approval I received to write this book,” Mr. Maguire said. “I thought I had met the conditions, and proceeded accordingly. As a result, I no longer work there.”

Mr. Maguire, who joined Reuters in April, said the book “looks at Ann Coulter’s arguments, and deconstructs them to show how misguided they can be.”

He added: “When the political discourse has dropped to the unfathomable levels it has, someone has to say this is wrong.”

He said he was unable to interview Ms. Coulter for the book, or even get her to return e-mail or phone messages left through her publicist.

Reuters confirmed that Mr. Maguire was granted conditional approval to write his book on Ms. Coulter — a conservative lightning rod, author and TV talking head. When asked what changed once the book was ready, a company statement pointed to Reuters’ principles of “integrity, independence and freedom from bias.” The statement reads: “Our editorial policy and The Reuters Trust Principles are prominently displayed for all to see on www.about.reuters.com. Mr. Maguire’s book will soon be available. Both speak for themselves.”

Mr. Maguire’s publisher, the William Morrow imprint of HarperCollins, said, “It would be very disappointing if Joe Maguire’s dismissal from Reuters had anything to do with him authoring, ‘Brainless,’ ” which it described as a “compelling and witty book.”

[oxcart]

[Psycho_Bunny]

I wonder what the real story is here.

[Rummyfan]

Mr. Maguire’s publisher, the William Morrow imprint of HarperCollins, said, “It would be very disappointing if Joe Maguire’s dismissal from Reuters had anything to do with him authoring, ‘Brainless,’ ” which it described as a “compelling and witty book.”

Oh yeah I'll bet! When you give your book such an explicit title, you've already lost the battle.

[SIDENET]

Lost his job, did he?

[goldstategop]

I love when Reuters AKA the Drive By Media, sends one of its editors packing. Joe Maguire couldn't convince his bosses Ann Coulter was "brainless." He succeeded too far for his own good - and now he's out of a job. Yeah, when you attack a conservative be sure every one else is on board.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[tcostell]

In general I have an excellent relationship with Reuters the company... but they really have no idea how they're viewed in terms of their inherent editorial bias. I've tried a number of times to make it clear to them, but they prefer to continue their pattern of self denial, and to trundle on.

[sticker]

"Mr. Maguire, who joined Reuters in April, said the book “looks at Ann Coulter’s arguments, and deconstructs them to show how misguided they can be.”

Notice he doesn't say her arguments are wrong, but misguided. Typical leftist BS, if you can not prover people are wrong just say they are misguided And so the rule is not broken:

[goldstategop]

You would think a bunch of libs who work at Reuters would given the guy a promotion. I'm thinking Maguire's being fired has nothing to do with the book... its purely coincidental.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[oxcart]

(((PING)))

[xtinct]

[RedRover]

This book must be incredibly partisan, not just "deconstructing" Ann's arguments.

[CharlesWayneCT]

"When the political discourse has dropped to the unfathomable levels it has, someone has to say this is wrong.”

And apparently, oddly, Reuters has actually said it was wrong. An odd bit of sanity for them.

The author probably doesn't even SEE the hypocrisy of making the above statement when justifying a book titled "Brainless - The Lies and Lunacy of Ann Coulter".

[shekkian]

On a little side note, Susan Estrich also has a new book out, called Soulless, which is on the same premise. Susan is even wearing the same black dress on the cover.

[Always Right]

We are committed to reporting the facts and in all situations avoid the use of emotive terms.

I suppose the title "Brainless" should have been the first clue this book was going to cost the author his job. The author is 'clueless'.

[50sDad]

If true, hurrah that the Left is finally getting to see the kind of persecution many of us have always felt when speaking out about our views.

I was talking with a friend today about the Amish folks who attended the funeral of the murderious psycho who took their kids...and did so to pray for the nutball and his surviving family members. Remember, as Rosie O'Donnell says, fundamentalist Christians are just as dangerous as funamentalist Muslims. Do you think we will see an eager reporter from one of the big networks ask Rosie about this?

[AmericanChef]

Sounds like they told him "no", he went ahead with the book anyway, got himself fired, and now wants to create some delicious made-up controversy to get his book in the news. Succeeded?

[longtermmemmory]

Perhaps this was a liability land mine.

unpublishable because it was a personal attack using NYT style made up "facts".

[noname07718]

I just read their "Editorial Policy" and it essentially says that they are frequently caught publishing erroneous stories/photos by outsiders. FreeRepublic rules!

[johnny7]

It should be called... Witless: A Rape Victims Mindless Adoration of Bill Clinton