Monthly Archives: June 2008

Holy Grail: Questing for a Pulitzer at the Detroit Free Press

Posted on June 13, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Why such huffing and puffing from the Free Press about the First Amendment and the paper’s — and presumably the public’s — right to know what was in every one of the text messages tapped out by … Continue reading →

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Hypocrisy: First Amendment and the “free” press

Posted on June 11, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell The Detroit Free Press seemed both angry and mystified in its June 8, 2008 story about a Detroit judge who barred the public and media from a hearing about evidence in Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s text message … Continue reading →

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Wannabe lawyer: Monica Conyers

Posted on June 9, 2008 by admin

  From my files…(updated) By Joel Thurtell Hubby’s a lawyer, and so is she. But what’s this? Monica Conyers, a Detroit city councilwoman and wife of U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., is not in the Michigan Bar Directory. Yet her … Continue reading →

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A week late, and short a few bucks

Posted on June 8, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell A week after a federal jury acquitted Geoffrey Fieger of charges that he used “straw donors” to cover more than a hundred grand he donated to the 2004 John Edwards presidential campaign, the Detroit Free Press finally … Continue reading →

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Private red squads illegal, too

Posted on June 6, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Who ever heard of newspapers running red squads? Sound crazy? Well, in their effort to impose behavioral conformity on newsroom workers through loosely-thought-out rules known as “ethical guidelines,” news managers have actually been doing the same kind … Continue reading →

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Police content, not reporters, arbitrator advises papers

Posted on June 4, 2008 by admin

  By Joel Thurtell He’s no journalist, but Paul Glendon has some sage advice for newsroom bosses who want to make their publications bias-free. Don’t be obsessed with contributions your staffers make to political causes, says Glendon. Look at your … Continue reading →

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Breathe easy, Gannett execs

Posted on June 3, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Bet some Gannett news execs are heaving giant sighs of relief that their company lost their case in the arbitration of my $500 donation to Michigan Dems in 2004. Turns out nearly 30 top Gannett honchos did … Continue reading →

Posted in Arbitration, future of newspapers, Joel's J School | 3 Comments

Dowd too “over the top” for public editor

Posted on June 2, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell  Well, Clarkie’s been at it again.  I was hoping that after a couple of my punitive columns, New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt would have seen the light.  After my onslaughts, I can’t understand why he … Continue reading →

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