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Reporter fired for writing
Posted on October 9, 2006 2:03 PM
Weird, isn't it?
Joe Maguire, a Reuters editor in charge of markets coverage, chose to write a book about Ann Coulter, lampooning her book "Godless" by titling his "Brainless: The Lies and Lunacy of Ann Coulter."
The "conditional approval" he received from the news organization did not survive a review of the galleys of the book, said a number of blogs that were all pointing to the New York Times about it.
It's not a good day to be a Joe. Another notable New York Joe, name of Torre, maybe you've seen his World Series rings, is being pushed towards the door. Reuters Joe was done in by The Trust Principles of Reuters...
When asked what changed once the book was ready, a company statement pointed to Reuters’ principles of “integrity, independence and freedom from bias.� The statement reads: “Our editorial policy and The Reuters Trust Principles are prominently displayed for all to see on www.about.reuters.com. Mr. Maguire’s book will soon be available. Both speak for themselves.�So Reuters Joe writes an anti-Ann book, and now he gets to bank on the publicity over his firing as well as being picked up by tons of blogs sympathetic to his book's viewpoint, all urging people to go buy a copy. I'd say Reuters Joe didn't want to be fired almost as much as politicians don't want campaign donations.
A Reuters employee who insisted on anonymity out of concern at angering management said that the 20 or so employees at the markets desk where Mr. Maguire had been one of two editors in charge “took a group coffee break� in solidarity on Thursday.
On Friday, the employee said, there was a meeting with Reuters management informing the workers there that Mr. Maguire would no longer be working there and that they “weren’t allowed to ask why.� Printed copies of the principles of trust were handed out, however.
Go ahead and take those group coffee breaks, oh Reuteurians. Reuters Joe is laughing all the way to the bank.
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