E&P: Letter Reveals Reason (Leahy column) for Firing of Vermont AP Chief

[Newsjock]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002462017

Former Associated Press Vermont bureau chief Chris Graff, whose firing for unannounced reasons in March sparked statewide protests from journalists and public officials, was terminated for distributing a column by Sen. Patrick Leahy that promoted open public records, according to his termination letter obtained by E&P today.

The letter, written by AP Northern New England Regional Bureau Chief Larry Laughlin, revealed that Graff, a 27-year veteran of the Vermont bureau, lost his job because he distributed the column, which was eventually pulled from the AP wire.

... When Graff was fired, widespread speculation surfaced in Vermont that the Leahy column had been the reason. Neither Graff nor AP officials had previously commented on the cause. But Graff, who released the letter today, said the "elected official" cited in it refers to Leahy and his column. Many in Vermont news circles had been puzzled that the Leahy column would prompt a firing since a similar Leahy column on the same topic had been distributed by Graff's bureau a year earlier with no repercussions.

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[flyarm]

1. oh but AP has no problem with printing Kkkkarl Roves talking points! N/T

[Trillo]

2. One mechanism of cwhorporate media manipulation.

Print something cwhorporate doesn't like: you're fired. In my mind, it also destroys the value of what they do print.

[librechik]

3. fired for supporting open records?

That doesn't look good.

[midnight]

8. Whistle Blower protection.

He was making the public aware of information that is being concealed and he is fired-Wow. Isn't that what happened to Ms. Edmonds, and Bunny-sorry don't know last name. And in some respects Valerie Plame. Ms.Plame's job dismissal was the gravest of all decisions on this administrations part.

[AX10]

4. Gee, the AP has no problems printing GOP talking points.

:argh:

[PATRICK]

9. Worth studting AP

Fortunately they are reader's digest brief so that every word is especially crafted for content. Yet, within those constraints, time is always given to slant. You can spot the phrases, the tone in what is usppoed to be trimmed down summaries and facts. The Dems are nearly always protrayed a certain way and it is the consistency that does the long term damage. By noting the names on the bylines one can see who and often why. If anyone is biased the other way I certainly would like a list of name(s) before he(she,they)
are canned.

A little word analysis reveals it very easily without having to worry you are reading things into it or picking at straws.

And yet this is certainly a central source for non-local news taken on faith by journalists and readers nationewide who apparently have never seen the need to do a simple critical reading of these pared down blurbs. Even what is missing and how things are worded are very telling. A local newspaper with the same facts could report things very differently, yet they don't bother and don't wonder and probably don't want their local readers to critique THEIR possible slant in the way no one bothers to do AP or other "neutral" sources.

A news report is not often welcome from someone in the hometown. Someone made that comment about prophets
too. And who would be the local maverick who would dare question the national sources, the establishment Bible and not expect to raise dangerous opposition among the TV herd. By its very nature the plain truth is now editorial because it is in opposition to what is perceived falsely as the plain truth.

[tanyev]

5. Whaaaaa?

Your decision to allow an elected official's editorial comments to run unfettered on the wire March 8 compromised the integrity and impartiality of the AP's news report.

Don't newspapers run op-eds from elected officials of both parties all the time? How in the world can this be a cause for firing?

[Clovis Sangrail]

6. why did his boss lie about it?

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060321/BUSINESS/603210302/1003&theme=

Larry Laughlin, AP bureau chief of northern New England who oversees the Vermont bureau in Montpelier, told the Free Press that Graff resigned, but declined to provide details on his departure.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002462017

The letter, written by AP Northern New England Regional Bureau Chief Larry Laughlin, revealed that Graff, a 27-year veteran of the Vermont bureau, lost his job because he distributed the column, which was eventually pulled from the AP wire.

"This is to inform you that your employment at the Associated Press is terminated," the March 20 letter begins.

[katinmn]

11. Laughlin probably doubles as the state RNC liaison

Those bastards are everywhere!

Laughlin should be terminated.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. K&R

[electropop]

10. Let AP know what you think:

[e-mail]

My letter:

The firing of Chris Graff reveals that AP has sunk to a new low. AP is now apparently just an arm of the Fascist regime now occupying the White House. Firing your Vermont bureau chief for distributing an "unfettered" op-ed peice by a VERMONT Senator is simply apalling and disgusting. Excuse me, but is America now officially "fettered?" Is the First Amendment no longer valid? Are we no longer America? You should fire Northern New England Regional Bureau Chief Larry Laughlin for committing such an offense against the American public, your readers.

[HuffleClaw]

12. AP is, imo, the most openly biased news service, often simply

rewriting administration press releases/statements and passing them off as 'news'.