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Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Why did the AP can Chris Graff?
Reports from Peter Freyne and The New York Times. And yes, he was fired.
March 22, 2006 at 09:06 AM in Media/Keeping an eye on the competition | Permalink
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Posted by: jessamyn | Mar 22, 2006 9:51:39 AM
Librarians rock.
Posted by: cresmer | Mar 22, 2006 9:52:57 AM
Good God, what's going on over there? Graff is a class act, and I'm really saddened by this news. If it's true that the AP brass fired him in response to political pressure, then we'd all better start reading foreign newspapers, because the AP is the cornerstone of the US press. Guardian, anyone?
I suspect, however, that it's not that simple. A clue is given in the sharp wording of the NYT piece, explaining high up that he was fired "after he put a partisan column on the wire, and as the news agency is consolidating some if its bureaus across state lines." .... Pretty convenient time for a trusted journalist to start screwing up, huh? In more prosperous times Graff's "lapses of judgement" might have been viewed with a more forgiving eye, but now his loss is some guy in New Hampshire's gain. And after that long at the company his salary is probably on the high side.
A tip of the hat to the Hall Montior for breaking the story - that's quite a coup.
Posted by: Yankunian | Mar 22, 2006 10:04:28 AM
I was shocked to hear about this, and more shocked at how close to their chest the AP is holding their cards.
I just don't see in what way, manner, shape or form that an article written by a politician is not news, anyway.
It is our responsibility as citizens to know what our politicians think, so that we can give them our input on what we think so that they have something to work with.
How are we supposed to do that if what they write is "not news" or is "partisan" or that a story about a baby stork or high school football is more important to run?
The rumors are already flying by the way - yesterday I heard
"No, I bet he quit."
"He probably made a salary demand with ultimatum and they said 'see ya.'"
"I heard that he was offered to quit or be fired. I wonder why he didn't just quit?"
It's pretty silly. Chris is a nice guy, and I'm genuinely sorry that he's going through this.
Posted by: Gravity | Mar 22, 2006 11:08:34 AM
Am not able to access my e-mail or Blogger account at the moment, due to the limited access and an old slow computer as well as even slower dailup I have use of for a few minutes, however figured I would post it as a comment here in order to flag this for anyone who had not already come across it.
Recently posted on the VPT Vermont This Week, this week's program page (here):
Message from Chris Graff
Below is the text of Chris' comments from the end of this week's program:
Finally, tonight, a personal note. As many of you have heard or read, as of Monday of this week, I no longer work for the Associated Press. It has been difficult, after twenty-seven-and-a-half years of covering the news for the AP, to find myself making it instead. Even more ironically, considering how often over the years I have been frustrated by someone's "no comment," I am unable at the moment, for legal reasons, to comment on the circumstances of my departure.
However, I can say that my family and I have been overwhelmed and deeply touched by all the people who have responded with support and who have had such nice things to say about my work over the years.
That work will continue - on this program for instance. For three decades it has been an honor to tell the story of Vermont and the stories of Vermonters to a regional, national, and sometimes international audience and I feel blessed.
[...]
Posted by: mwb | Mar 24, 2006 4:57:33 PM
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