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 Schadenfreude  |
This is the New York Times Schadenfreude Ping List. Freepmail me to be added or dropped.
Posted on 05/25/2003 1:17:55 AM PDT by kattracks
Anger made him do it, Jayson Blair claims in a rage-filled book proposal hawking the tale of his downfall at The New York Times.Hoping to cash in on his newfound infamy, Blair proposes to write a book titled "Burning Down My Master's House," in which he admits to alcohol and drug addiction but accuses The Times of racism.
He also vows to expose the newspaper's "darkest secrets," including "an editor caught sleeping with his intern" and "cocaine parties on the fifth floor of the newsroom," according to his eight-page proposal, a copy of which was obtained by the Daily News.
Blair, who is black, calls The Times "my tormentor, my other drug, my slavemaster," but admits he "really screwed up" when he plagiarized others and fabricated details in his stories.
While some publishers have said that the book could fetch a six-figure advance, others doubt there will be a bidding war for the work of someone as discredited as Blair.
"He obviously knows how to write fiction, but he doesn't have a lot of credibility," noted publisher Judith Regan told Reuters. "There's a sucker born every minute."
Still reeling from the Blair scandal, The Times saw new details emerge yesterday on controversies surrounding two other writers.
Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent Rick Bragg, who used extensive, uncredited material from a 23-year-old intern in a story, will be getting paid during his two-week suspension that began Friday, according to a Times employee who spoke to The Associated Press.
Catherine Mathis, a spokeswoman for The Times, declined to comment yesterday.
Bragg did not return a call or E-mail requesting comment yesterday.
Another flap centered on Styles section writer Alex Kuczynski, who is on leave to write a book.
According to a published report, an internal memo was circulated Monday announcing her resignation, and staffers speculated that the former media reporter may have been forced out. But Toby Usnik, another Times spokesman, said yesterday that Kuczynski is expected back at the end of the year.
With News Wire Services
Originally published on May 25, 2003
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Schadenfreude |
That could be said about HILLARY!, too. Hope it wasn't Judith who advanced Mrs. Bubba the big bucks to write the upcoming doorstop.
This guy is a loon, but at least he has the balls to admit what Jesse Jackson won't.
Back when he was helping "tote de load" on the (liberal) massa's plantation, they didn't care about his "truth defects." Now that he's planning to train his guns on the NYT, character has become a legitimate issue.
Knock me over with a feather. Although, I will say, if he does go through with this project, I plan to read it (but not to spend any money on it -- libraries are our friends!) A "falling out among thieves" is always fun to watch.
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