TIMES IN MUTINY OVER BOSSES' 'WHITEWASH'

New York Post ^ | 5/13/03 | KEITH KELLY and DAN MANGAN

[kattracks]

May 13, 2003 -- The top editors at The New York Times yesterday took the blame for failing to oust disgraced reporter Jayson Blair sooner - but staffers said heads should roll and accused the brass of a "whitewash."

"While we deplore Jayson's conduct, we also recognize that, however difficult it may be, it is the responsibility of The Times, its Publisher, its Executive Editor and its Managing Editor to protect that bond of trust and prevent such occurrences or, at the very least, uncover them rapidly," said a memo to employees.

[sam_paine]

Is anyone else reminded of the nauseating "Sunday New York Times" TV commercial of the black lady in a sweater and morning sunroom saying of the Times, "...it tells me things I won't hear, read or see....anywhere else."

BWAH!!! How fabulously ironic.

Buy a newspaper to read, Read a Greensheet to Buy, Buy a NY Times for the Lie!

[sam_paine]

Howell Raines was bamboozled by a sleazy con man.

The New York Times: A Spike Lee (type) Joint.....

[ironman]

The source is from the NY Post.

[Fearless Flyers]

Perhaps an editor might begin a reformation in some such way as this: divide his paper into four chapters, heading the first, Truths, 2nd Probabilities, 3rd, Possibilities, 4th lies. The first chapter would be very short, as it would contain little more than authentic papers and information from such sources as the editor would be willing to risk his own reputation for their truth. The second would contain what, from a mature consideration of all circumstances, his judgment should conclude to be probably true. This however should contain too little than too much. The third and fourth should be professedly for those readers who would rather have lies for their money than the blank paper they would occupy.

Above excerpted from a Letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to John Norvell, June 11, 1807. The late President really was a Prophet.

I believe the Times does have a Truths section, and from what I understand their section is the largest of any publication in the nation, they actually call it Corrections. Does anyone have confirmation on this.

[Grampa Dave]

Thank you, I got lost in the article.

[Bernard Marx]

Many of the great newsmen never spent a day in a college classroom and they managed to write good, readable articles, truthful and to the point... School, shmool. Who needs it!

As a former reporter I agree and disagree. In the times you refer to, an 8th-grade education was better than today's college B.A. Schoolteachers need to learn something to teach rather than spend their time in bureaucratic "schools of education" learning bureaucratic techniques. And so do journalists need to study government, economics, history etc. rather than be brainwashed by politically correct "schools of journalism" like Missouri or Columbia.

Those two schools have contributed heavily to the destruction of traditional American journalism (and plenty of others have gotten into the act). At the same time, if the people covering news had real educations and truly understood their specialties (like Neil avuto, for instance) Americans would be given more of the the information they need to vote constructively.

[Bernard Marx]

avuto = Cavuto.

[SauronOfMordor]

On another thread, Carolinasmom sez:

I understand that Blair worked as an intern at the NYT, then returned to college supposedly to get his degree before being hired. This morning, I heard on FOX that he never actually graduated from college. So he was a college drop-out but NYT hired him anyway. "Moving on UP" seems to have been the theme song for him there.

Considering that there should be a reasonable number of black journalists that could be less embarrassing to the Times, could it be that the reason for his advancement and retention has something to do with "personal" relationships with one or more senior executives at the Times?

[OldFriend]

You are soo wrong. College is an exercise in intellectual thought. It exposes the student to disciplines that they would never have a chance to explore on their own. You need a class full of students discussing and arguing about a topic before you get the chance to decide for yourself. There is history to learn, world affairs to study, and the process is enriching as well. Sorry for you if you think the person with a high school diploma knows everything they need to know.......

[Bernard Marx]

could it be that the reason for his advancement and retention has something to do with "personal" relationships with one or more senior executives at the Times?

I personally think it has more to do with the Times's twisted view of affirmative action, but "Punch" Sulzberger's name has been associated with activities described by a word that used to mean lighthearted and happy. A quick Google search produced the following from The Advocate:

http://www.signorile.com/articles/advonyt.html

[lasereye]

What the hell do you need a degree for to go out and tell your readers the who, what, where, why and when of a thing?

Why is there even such a thing as a Journalism School? If someone majors in English or History they should have all the basic knowledge they need to be a journalist. Whatever practical knowledge is involved in journalism is something they get on the job.

[r9etb]

Just an odd, off-the-wall thought:

Is Jayson Blair gay?

It's not an idle question: what if Blair's protection was not his color, but his sexual orientation (which is apparently well represented among the NYT top brass)?

[js1138]

Sulzberger, quoted in Sunday's article, had laid the blame squarely on Blair, saying "let's not begin to demonize our executives - either the desk editors or the executive editor or, dare I say, the publisher."

That rational makes sense for the first offense, and possibly a second. After the second, management is responsible.

[mondonico]

Maybe Blair was an affirmative action two-fer: African American and homosexual.

[martin_fierro]

have any of this guy's fabricated "anonymous source" stories been chronicled in the news in the last few days?

I think Blair quoted anonymous sources in his (false) Washington Sniper story where he claimed police were considering Malvo to be the primary shooter because Malvo's DNA was found on a grape stem at one shooting scene. It drove the DC cops nuts.

[aristeides]

You mean "Pinch" Sulzberger (the son and current publisher), not "Punch" Sulzberger (his father, the former publisher).

I wonder when the Ochs and Sulzberger families (the owners) will rise in rebellion and dismiss Pinch.

[johnb838]

I love it. The NYT lives by the Anonymous Source. Let it die by it.

SOME would say that's harsh... (I think the words 'some say' should be banned from news. I cringe whenever I hear it because I know it's spin but the masses don't).

[js1138]

Sorry for you if you think the person with a high school diploma knows everything they need to know.......

Depends on the high school and the college. I think my (private) high school had better teachers and more open and wide ranging discussion than my college.

[PISANO]

Another example of PC run amok. Out of the mouth of the Times managing editor. We at the NYT strive for journalistic accuracy and MORE IMPORTANTLY diversty within or ranks. It is obvious which they have achieved.

[johnb838]

Given the amount of completely unsolicited, extraordinarily offensive and graphic spam that is flying around these days, there are a lot of people in jeopardy who have done nothing repeat nothing wrong.

(yeah but if you got on the spam mailing list you must have done SOMETHING, right?)

(Omigod! Texas has a WHOREHOUSE in it!)