Posted January 9, 2004

Sportswriter Says He Lied and Career Is Over

Mike Freeman, formerly with the New York Times, won't be taking the columnist's job at the Indianapolis Star, as announced, saying he had stated on his job application at the Star that he had graduated from college but in fact had not.

Freeman said that as a result, "I will be punished with the loss of my newspaper career," but Star editor Dennis Ryerson told Journal-isms, "He's a talented journalist. I think he's going to do OK in the future. He's a good writer."

In Freeman's note, published on both the Star Web site and on sportspages.com, he said:

"Late last month I left the New York Times to take a column position at the Indianapolis Star. While in the process of interviewing for the position, I filled out an application form and stated I was a graduate of the University of Delaware. I also, for the first time ever, stated this fact on my resume.

"These were lies. I was at the university for four years but in fact did not graduate.

"This was a terrible and unforgivable manipulation of the facts and I have resigned from my newly accepted position as columnist for the Star. It was the only time I have told such falsehoods and no other deceptions have ever appeared in any of my newspaper stories or two books at any time in my 16-years of practicing journalism. Nevertheless, the information I gave the Star was wrong and I will be punished with the loss of my newspaper career.

"There are no excuses or alibis. This is my fault and my fault alone.

"Most of all, I have hurt and disappointed close friends and family, particularly my wife, and for this I am truly sorry. I also want to apologize to the Star, especially Tim Wheatley, the assistant managing editor of sports, who treated me with such respect during the interview process, and columnist Bob Kravitz, who helped introduce me to Tim and others at the paper," his note continues.

Freeman, 37, was to start at The Star Monday, with his column debuting later that week.

In a note to Star readers, Ryerson said, "The Star is committed to operating with high ethical standards. We recognize credibility issues have confronted our industry, and we want to be a leader in addressing those issues."

Black, Hispanic Media Help Fund Sharpton

Al Sharpton's career has been aided by African American and Hispanic media moguls who have become "the inner core of supporters that have financed his campaigns -- and lifestyle -- for years," according to "The Buying of the President, 2004," a book released Thursday by Charles Lewis and the Center for Public Integrity.

"Rallied by Inner City Broadcasting cofounder Percy Sutton, the group included Black Enterprise magazine chairman Earl Graves Sr. and Essence publisher Ed Lewis.

"These names also appear on the campaign contributor lists and board rolls of the National Action Network" that Sharpton heads, the book continues.

It lists the top donors to the National Action Network from 1999 to 2000 as:

Don King Productions, $420,000; African Heritage Network, $177,000; The Word Network and affiliated companies, $151,000; Prudential Financial Inc., $63,500; Spanish Broadcasting System, $50,000; Afeni Shakur (mother of Tupac), $50,000; Black Enterprise, $42,000; Essence, $42,000; Radio One Inc., $25,000; Byron Lewis, owner of UniWorld Group, the country's largest black-owned advertising agency, $25,000; and Viacom Inc, $25,000.

Many of these contributors joined Sharpton in his "Madison Avenue Initiative," designed to lobby corporations to expend more advertising dollars on minority markets and hire minority-owned advertising and marketing firms, similar to a strategy that Jesse Jackson used on Wall Street, the book says.

Mike McQueen Becoming ME in Macon

Mike McQueen, head of the journalism department at Florida International University who has worked at the Miami Herald, USA Today and the Associated Press in Tallahassee, is joining the Macon Telegraph as managing editor, Executive Editor Sherrie Marshall has told her staff.

Like Marshall, McQueen is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Bill Sing Named L.A. Times Economics Editor

Bill Sing, Los Angeles Times business editor for six years until July 2002, when new Tribune Co. leadership arrived, has been named to the newly created position of economics editor. Sing is a co-founder and past national president of the Asian American Journalists Association.

"In his new post, Bill will lead a team of reporters dedicated to covering the economy -- in California and the West, as well as around the nation and across the world. He will report to Business Editor Rick Wartzman but also will work closely with the National and Foreign desks, in addition to the campaign team," reads a memo from Wartzman and Managing Editor Dean Baquet posted on L.A. Observed.

"With this in mind, Bill and representatives from other departments will meet weekly with Managing Editor Dean Baquet to ensure that the paper is devoting sufficient firepower to this crucial topic."

Sing became senior editor in charge of editing and creating special sections for the paper after Wartzman replaced him as business editor.

Cincinnati Enquirer Drops "Boondocks"

The Cincinnati Enquirer is dropping Aaron McGruder's "Boondocks" comic strip "because we did not want to keep publishing a comic that we regularly needed to censor," explained Sara Pearce, assistant managing editor/features.

"During the past year, Boondocks was substituted a number of times because it was deemed inappropriate for a family newspaper. And not just this family newspaper. Editors across the country were making the same decisions.

"Our policy is that we publish a comic strip or we don't. Once we start pulling specific strips, as well as entire weeks' worth, it is time to drop that strip. Although Boondocks has its fans, many of you were uncomfortable with it, and at times we were, too," Pearce told readers.

Station Ends Weekend News; Anchor Sanchez Out

KMEG-TV in Dakota Dunes, S.D., serving the Sioux City, Iowa, market, has dismissed its news anchor team, weatherman and sports director/sports anchor Spencer Sanchez as part of a "restructuring" of the CBS affiliate's news operation, news director Tedd O'Connell confirmed in the Sioux City Journal. A producer and an engineer were also among those let go, reporter Michele Linck wrote.

"Due to the restructuring, I do not have the staff level to continue the weekend news," O'Connell said in the story. "They give me a budget and I either live within my budget or I don't. I will live within my budget.

"We'll be Monday through Friday at both 6 and 10 (p.m.)," O'Connell continued. "Should a major event occur, we would be poised to go up and cover it as quickly as anybody else."

Sanchez could not be reached for comment, but O'Connell told Journal-isms he remains in touch with him daily.

"White Trash" Judged "Derogatory and Unnecessary"

Figure skater-and-now-pro boxer Tonya Harding "grew up in an environment that could politely be called lower class but actually reeked of white trash," wrote Philip Hersh in a Chicago Tribune story.

"That term, 'white trash,' struck Don Krzyzak, who described himself as a former professor of social work, as highly objectionable," writes Tribune public editor Don Wycliff, who is African American. "'This term,' he said in a phone message, 'has no place in the Tribune or any other newspaper in the United States.'

"I agree.

"In response to an e-mail I sent to Hersh and his editors asking about the decision to use the term, Hersh wrote: 'I thought long and hard before using it. The term fit Tonya Harding perfectly.'

"For the record: The Tribune Stylebook prescribes the use of racially derogatory terms 'only in direct quotes that are absolutely essential to a story.' It adds, 'Derogatory and unnecessary references to national origin and race do not belong in the Tribune,'" wrote Wycliff.

Kup's Aide, Stella, Gets Props With Own Column

When Chicago columnist and television personality Irv "Kup" Kupcinet died in November at age 91, we noted that Kup's "associate" and sometimes "co-columnist" was Stella Foster, sister of Jamie Foster Brown, publisher and owner of Sister 2 Sister magazine.

The Sun-Times has now given Foster her own "Stella's Column," and since Dec. 2, Foster has been holding forth on Tuesdays and Thursdays, writing about everything from the late Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., to Britney Spears.

"In keeping in the spirit of Kup's Column, my column will be chock full of news from the music, entertainment and celebrity scene, as well as the political, civic, business and sports arenas," she said in her debut effort. "Of course, it will spotlight the happenings in our great and glorious city including charity events, theater openings, places to dine, concerts, love hookups/breakups and plenty of juicy scoops.

"My column will be multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and, most importantly, a column you can enjoy over a cup of coffee in the morning or while relaxing in your easy chair after a hard day at the office."

CNN'S Hair Brings Personal Experience to Job

Princell Hair, who at age 36 made the leap last fall from local news to executive vice president and general manager of CNN's domestic operations, says he uses his personal experience to help shape the policies at the news operations he leads.

Orlando Sentinel television critic Hal Boedeker writes that "WKMG investigative reporter Tony Pipitone recalls that Hair shared a personal story to illustrate a point about coverage.

"Hair's only sibling, Patrick, served seven years in prison on a drug-trafficking charge. Pipitone recalls that Hair stressed that people, whether victims or suspects, deserved to be treated with respect.

"'It impacted my family greatly,' Hair says of his brother's sentence. 'It's just my mom, my brother and I. So we're all always very close. I think he just got caught up in the wrong thing. It was very difficult for me.'

"Under another Hair edict, Channel 6 stopped using generic racial descriptions for suspects," Boedeker writes, noting that Hair spent two years as news director there.

"'It wasn't relevant to say a suspect is black if you didn't have a specific description that was going to help the community find the suspect,' Pipitone says. 'It's too general to say a suspect is black, white or Hispanic.'

"Hair, an African-American who grew up in Fort Lauderdale, points to personal experience. He was delivering newspapers at 16 when police stopped him because he fit the general description of a suspect.

"'How many black juveniles around 17 are running around the streets of Fort Lauderdale?' he says he thought at the time. 'That doesn't make them all burglars. I bring that experience and other experiences to my job on a daily basis.'"

Rene Knott Leaves D.C. for St. Louis

Rene Knott is leaving Washington's WJLA-TV after 11 years, less than a month after the station announced his replacement as weeknight sports anchor by ABC commentator and former WJLA sports director Tim Brant, John Maynard reports in the Washington Post.

"Knott will be the main sports anchor at KSDK, the Gannett-owned NBC affiliate in St. Louis, the 21st-ranked market in the country. Washington is ranked eighth," Maynard wrote.

"Although Knott, 39, wanted to stay in Washington, he also wanted to retain a lead sports anchor position, but WJLA executives wanted him to remain in a secondary role.

"WJLA executives did make him a final offer to stay on Friday, according to Knott. 'It wasn't one that I could move forward with as far as my family getting ready for colleges,' he said in an interview," the story continued.

Magazines Name Director Of Hispanic Ventures

Ruth Gaviria, director of marketing and brand development for People en Espanol, has been named director of Hispanic Ventures for the Meredith Magazine Group, a new position, MediaPost reports.

Meredith publishes 20 subscription magazines, more than 40 special interest titles and numerous custom publications. The magazines include Ladies Home Journal and Better Homes and Gardens.

The words in blue (on most computers) are links leading to more information.

Send tips and comments to Richard Prince rprince@maynardije.org.

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