Category Archives: Joel’s J School

Fantasy JOA for Detroit?

Posted on July 2, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell In January, joelontheroad.com broke news about the start of a possible Joint Operating Agreement between my blog and the Detroit News and Free Press.     I didn’t get much response.   In fact, the only response … Continue reading →

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Times public editor “over the top”?

Posted on June 28, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Well, Clarkie’s been at it again. I was hoping that after a couple of my punitive columns, New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt would have seen the light. After my onslaughts, I can’t understand why he … Continue reading →

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Could Kwame skate?

Posted on June 16, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell What is it about the handling of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s text messages that might induce a judge to discuss the subject in secret? In a June 8 story, the Detroit Free Press seemed mystified — and … Continue reading →

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Holy Grail: Questing for a Pulitzer at the Detroit Free Press

Posted on June 13, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Why such huffing and puffing from the Free Press about the First Amendment and the paper’s — and presumably the public’s — right to know what was in every one of the text messages tapped out by … Continue reading →

Posted in Joel's J School, Kwamegate, People | Leave a comment

Hypocrisy: First Amendment and the “free” press

Posted on June 11, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell The Detroit Free Press seemed both angry and mystified in its June 8, 2008 story about a Detroit judge who barred the public and media from a hearing about evidence in Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s text message … Continue reading →

Posted in From My Files, Joel's J School, Kwamegate, Unions | Leave a comment

A week late, and short a few bucks

Posted on June 8, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell A week after a federal jury acquitted Geoffrey Fieger of charges that he used “straw donors” to cover more than a hundred grand he donated to the 2004 John Edwards presidential campaign, the Detroit Free Press finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Joel's J School, Kwamegate, People | Leave a comment

Private red squads illegal, too

Posted on June 6, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Who ever heard of newspapers running red squads? Sound crazy? Well, in their effort to impose behavioral conformity on newsroom workers through loosely-thought-out rules known as “ethical guidelines,” news managers have actually been doing the same kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Arbitration, future of newspapers, Joel's J School, Unions | Leave a comment

Breathe easy, Gannett execs

Posted on June 3, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell Bet some Gannett news execs are heaving giant sighs of relief that their company lost their case in the arbitration of my $500 donation to Michigan Dems in 2004. Turns out nearly 30 top Gannett honchos did … Continue reading →

Posted in Arbitration, future of newspapers, Joel's J School | 3 Comments

Dowd too “over the top” for public editor

Posted on June 2, 2008 by admin

By Joel Thurtell  Well, Clarkie’s been at it again.  I was hoping that after a couple of my punitive columns, New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt would have seen the light.  After my onslaughts, I can’t understand why he … Continue reading →

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Political gifts okay at Detroit Free Press, says arbitrator

Posted on May 30, 2008 by admin

An arbitrator has ruled there was nothing wrong with my $500 donation to Michigan Democrats in 2004. Last year, Free Press managers told me they might fire me if I continued to give money to political parties. The Newspaper Guild … Continue reading →

Posted in Arbitration, Joel's J School, Unions | 1 Comment