Note: It may seem weird for me to post a Louisville-centric story here, but The ‘Ville Voice is currently flooded and overwhelmed. Mirroring this story here for the time being.
You know I don’t like referring to the Courier-Journal and usually call it A Kentucky Newspaper – primarily because of reporters melting down in the comments here and on The ‘Ville Voice and trashing me all over the place because I have actual ethics. Because a reporter flat-out called me a liar in the comments (I proved him wrong). Because another reporter is a plagiarist. Because a web editor freaked out over a photograph of a newspaper box. Because there have been countless occasions when editors at that shit stain of a paper haven’t had the guts to properly cite me, my publications or others who deserve to be referred to by their full names, with complete URLs.
But I’m done.
We all know Dan Klepal outed a confidential source named Tyler Hess – something for which he may have been forced to do. And he spread it on WFPL’s website. On LEO. On Facebook. Everywhere. And then everyone at the C-J freaked out when LEO dared to question his reporting.
Funny how C-J – specifically Klepal – freaked at LEO for daring to use a confidential source. He went on for hours about how the C-J would never use an anonymous source. And then uses one in this latest mess. A source I hear is affiliated with the Fischer campaign.
We all know the GLI-Mayor’s Office series by Chris Otts has been withheld until after the election.
We all know the Fischer endorsement came weirdly on a Wednesday to stave off the horrible SurveyUSA data.
We all know Greg Fischer is the paper’s chosen boy. Because Greg is the establishment. Backed by the very people who have invested in me. Because the paper is the establishment. Backed by the people who want to keep this city in the dark ages.
Look at this:
You see that? It’s a hit piece, written by Klepal, about how horrible Hal Heiner is for not disclosing his dead ex-wife. Got it? DEAD EX-WIFE.
Republican mayoral candidate Hal Heiner acknowledged Thursday that he neglected to inform The Courier-Journal during interviews about his private life that he married and divorced in the 1970s before marrying his current wife of 33 years.
-SNIP-
Heiner married Beth Napier in 1971, at age 19.
The couple divorced in 1975. Napier is now deceased.
-SNIP-
An acquaintance of Heiner contacted The Courier-Journal Thursday, expressing disappointment that the story did not mention Napier.
Why is this relevant five days before an election? The woman is dead. It’s not like he was hiding some big, dark secret. And a divorce? Really? What’s the divorce rate in this state, again?
Garson & Ivory – the folks who ordered this hit piece – owe Louisville an apology. Gannett should seriously punish them. And Gannett executives need to hop on their plane and fly down here – this weekend – and demand reporters’ notes to verify these alleged anonymous sources.
Here’s what I know:
- Dan Klepal tells people he didn’t want to run this piece – Garson made him. So I can’t really hold it against him. Besides, it’s not his call to print something. So don’t go blaming him.
- Ivory tells folks that nothing is out of bounds when it comes to mayoral politics.
And since the C-J has sunk to a new low, let’s start talking about everything we know. Here’s a taste, everything is already common knowledge, but the press is afraid to talk about it:
- Greg Fischer’s son, George, was arrested last month for buying marijuana. He was let off and the dealer is being prosecuted. Go read all about it on lmpd.com. And while we’re at it, let’s talk about how the kid caused a scene with Jim King’s campaign at the end of the primary. That’s definitely worth some new exploration.
- Greg’s Caddy got wrecked recently and his campaign staff is working like crazy to keep that private.
- Greg worked to bust up several unions at his companies.
- Greg and his sister, Lynn, fought against unionization with the current arena behemoth downtown.
- Greg also got hit with a lawsuit over collective bargaining at Cardinal Stadium.
- Jerry Abramson’s son was pulled over while driving a city car. He also allegedly broke into a home with some pals and left his cell phone behind.
Should I go on? Since everything is fair game, according to the C-J.
This is absolutely disgusting. This is not journalism. This is propaganda. I encourage elected officials, journalists, reporters, media personalities, bloggers, Republicans, Democrats, observers to speak out about this crap.
Louisville cannot afford what the Courier-Journal is pushing as news any longer.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Richie'sMustache // Oct 28, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Great reporting! You are truly one-of-a-kind!
I’ve seen a lot of things, that have open my eyes, just following the Senate race this year.
Mongiardo would have easily won if the biased papers wouldn’t have buried Jack’s shortcomings and publicized Dan’s. The C-J is doing the same thing to Rand Paul.
They might as well start reporting their work as in-kind contributions to the FEC.
2 bestmid // Oct 28, 2010 at 10:46 pm
The CJ is a sad shadow of what it used to be. It’s become a local entertainment/gossip tabloid, full of wire service articles and lazy editing with tons of typos even a basic spellcheck would catch. Their own disrespect for their product is obvious. It used to be an honorable place to work.
Give ‘em hell, Jake.
And yes, you should go on.
3 jake // Oct 28, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Appreciate the kudos. But this is not about me.
And I’m most certainly not the only person doing this sort of thing. I’m just one of the few willing to risk everything to talk about what needs to be discussed in this state.
Trust me when I say HUNDREDS want to do this very thing. And would in a heartbeat if they could. But it’s scary risking it all.
4 wondering // Oct 28, 2010 at 11:38 pm
There are examples of this all over the press and not just in the C-J.
Why are family members of politicians or officials fair game for excessive news coverage? No one would have cared about the Yonts kid from western Kentucky, or Bill Nighbert’s son, if their fathers hadn’t been a legislator and a cabinet secretary respectively. Same for the Bush twins and their underage drinking. Or Gore’s kid’s penchant for driving real fast and smoking weed.
5 spinnikerca // Oct 29, 2010 at 12:10 am
Maybe some Congresswoman’s husband will buy them for a dollar.
6 Lisa Graas // Oct 29, 2010 at 12:47 am
My first solid lessons in justice were from C-J cartoonist Hugh Haynie.
Not to put down the C-J but I became so turned off by their bias years ago that I don’t even think to turn to them anymore.
7 freedom100 // Oct 29, 2010 at 12:58 am
Bless you Jake for having the strength and integrity to enlighten the public since the Courageless Urinal is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the status quo of graft and corruption. There is nothing journalistic about that rag which is probably the reason that their circulation is so pitiful. Cudos and thank you from the citizens of the Ville!!!
8 Junction Jack // Oct 29, 2010 at 1:08 am
You know who can fix this, Jake? Keenan Cahill!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTya267fe1Y
9 garyguss // Oct 29, 2010 at 5:46 am
CJ has basically become a wrapper for USA Today which is the Gannet way
10 Strangeite // Oct 29, 2010 at 8:11 am
I am all for picking a fight with the people that buy ink by the barrel but make sure you have your ducks in a row.
Have you filed a DMCA agent to qualify PageOne as a safe harbor under the DMCA?
Here is a link that I think you will find VERY important if you have not.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/10/dmca-righthaven-loophole/
11 blowin' in the wind // Oct 29, 2010 at 8:31 am
Right on target, Jake. I didn’t see this until five minutes ago and the steam is coming out of the top of my head. The Courier Journal is dead; it is a disgrace to our community; even though I have to hold my nose to read the Voice Tribune, I hope all advertisers will boycott the CJ (although except for womens apparel and jewelry, they should probably boycott both)
12 Boogs // Oct 29, 2010 at 9:40 am
Jake, what I think is most disturbingly strange is that Heiner’s supposed big crime is not revealing this to the paper. It is news to the paper because the paper feels slighted. Of course, politically, the divorce has no meaning. It is literally not a political issue.
13 jake // Oct 29, 2010 at 10:17 am
I have to say that I don’t think the story is bad. I actually think it’s fine. And Hal likely should have mentioned this marriage previously.
BUT.
The issue is that the paper is using this as a political move with the news room. And after Klepal spent hours trashing LEO for using an anonymous source – claiming the C-J would never, ever do such a thing – that very thing occurred just days later. In a piece that hit strangely just before an election.
14 Belknap Banquo // Oct 29, 2010 at 11:39 am
I have it on good authority that as a young boy Hal Heiner had dirty thoughts about Annette Funicello and followed her “growth” religiously. Because he did not disclose that little fact I will have no choice but to vote for Fischer.
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