Chattanooga Times Editor Fired Over Anti-Obama Headline

The Daily Bret ^ | Augusy 1, 2013 | Howard Kurtz, Fox News Analyst

[don-o]

The editorial page editor of a Chattanooga newspaper has become, as he tweeted today, “the first person in the history of newspapers to be fired for writing a paper’s most-read article.”

The problem was not the anti-Obama editorial itself. It was the headline: “Take your jobs plan and shove it, Mr. President: Your policies have harmed Chattanooga enough.”

Is that, in this age of vigorous media debate, really a firing offense?

The Chattanooga Times Free Press says that Drew Johnson got the boot, after just 14 months on the job, for adding the headline “outside of normal editing procedures.” The editorial appeared on Tuesday, the day that Obama visited the Tennessee town.

The Times Free Press says that “the headline was inappropriate for this newspaper. It was not the original headline approved for publication, and Johnson violated the normal editing process when he changed the headline. The newspaper’s decision to terminate Johnson had nothing to do with the content of the editorial, which criticized the president’s job creation ideas and Chattanooga’s Smart Grid. The Free Press page has often printed editorials critical of the president and his policies.”

[ZULU]

Well, since we are nop longer a Democratic Republic, lese majestie is a serious offense. He’s lucky he isn’t hung, drawn and quartered. (Sarcasm)

[tennmountainman]

It also be a shame if conservatives cancel their subscriptions to this Pravda
rag.

[jeffc]

Not being familiar with this newspaper, what are the chances an editor would have been fired for printing said editorial when W was Prez?

[DaveA37]

When will people wake up and get rid of the politically correct crap. Seems there is an Article 1 of our constitution related to free speech.

Well, my free speech comment for today is, “GET RID OF ODUMBO, HE IS A BLIGHT ON THIS ONCE GREAT COUNTRY!
The man belongs in jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now hopefully someone will read this and take it to heart and start the impeachment proceedings.

PS. You cannot imagine in your wildest dreams what I want to say about odumbo.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Always heard that about Chattanooga.
Strange little pocket of blue for as far south as it is.

[justlurking]

This paper has separate conservative and liberal editorial pages.

I understand that the editor violated policy by changing the headline without approval. But, I have a couple of questions:

• Did the editor commit other infractions, or was this the first one? If this was the first, was it really appropriate to fire him for a first offense? Wouldn't a warning, accompanied by an correction, have been more appropriate?

• If a liberal editor had done the same thing, would you have have fired him/her? Has a liberal editor committed a similar infraction? If so, how did you handle that one? Now that you have set a precedent, will you fire a liberal editor that commits a similar infraction?

Yes, those are more than a couple of questions. But, I guess it's a couple of themes.

Frankly, I think the newspaper over-reacted. But, what I really want to know: are they being consistent? Or did they just use this infraction to get rid of a thorn in their side?

[presently no screen name]

What if he said ...
Take your jobs plan and shove it up your obama, Mr. President.

[Insigne123]

...The Chattanooga Semi - Free Press now looking for a liberal editor-in-chief

[GeorgiaDawg32]

Or did they just use this infraction to get rid of a thorn in their side?

Is that a rhetorical question?

[nascarnation]

Given the trend in print media, they will have a huge swarm of potential candidates.....

[dforest]

People are probably starting to envy Snowdon.

[justlurking]

Is that a rhetorical question?

Thanks, I needed that laugh. :-)

[sport]

The Nation's Idol and messiahs is not to be taken in vain or used disparagingly. I know this from experience. At church one Sunday before service, I spoke about the Nation's Idol and savior with less than the reverence than a visitor from up North felt was due him, and was severely castigated for my indiscretion by him. They are things one can do in this life without suffering repercussions, but, speaking irreverently of the Nation's messiah is not one of them

[Rick_Tygart]

For some reason I’m reminded of the Mark Twain short story, “Journalism in Tennessee”. I think Mr. Clemens might advise Mr. Johnson to go find the guy that fired him and to
“Cowhide” him or her. Or whatever it calls itself. Their excuse for this firing is all-out BS.

[RginTN]

Their excuse for this firing is all-out BS.

---

I wondered if the Regime influenced them or they are Obots.