Two Sun journalists target of a ban

Baltimore Sun ^ | November 20, 2004 | Stephen Kiehl

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The Ehrlich administration has taken the unusual step of banning all state officials from speaking with two Sun journalists, who they say are "failing to objectively report" on state issues.

The governor's press office sent a memo Thursday to all state public information officers and to the governor's staff ordering them to not speak with State House Bureau Chief David Nitkin or columnist Michael Olesker.

"Do not return calls or comply with any requests," press secretary Shareese N. DeLeaver wrote in the memo. The ban is in effect "until further notice."

"There's no hiding the fact of The Sun's distaste for the results of this past election," said Greg Massoni, also a press secretary to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican. "And they are perfectly entitled to that opinion. We have a grave problem with their editorial page taking over the news division, and apparently that's what's happened."

Sun Editor Timothy A. Franklin, the top newsroom executive, called such a suggestion "ridiculous on its face." He said, "The editorial board and the newsroom are distinctly separate departments of the company, on separate floors of the building. We don't know what they're going to write about, and they don't know what we're going to write about. And that's as it should be."

Franklin said he offered Thursday to meet with Ehrlich and his press officers to go over specific complaints they have with Sun reporting, but that offer was turned down. He said Nitkin would continue to cover the State House, even though the ban will make his job more difficult.

[Bon mots]

Are these guys in Power in Baltimore Democrats or Republicans?

The link goes to the newspaper via a login...
so I couldn't read the whole article.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Ehrlich is a Republican governor.

[WideGlide]

And for 8 years neither Glendening nor Townsend could wipe their a$$eS without hitting Olesker in the nose.

[Baytovin]

"He said, "The editorial board and the newsroom are distinctly separate departments of the company, on separate floors of the building."

...uhhh, and they DON'T have elevators? Shucks...CBS has affilites scattered all across America....but still managed to come up with the same 'Party Line'.

[leprechaun9]

Every government entity should do the same thing with every member of the MSM!

[Cacique]

try username: retarded
passowrd: username

[Cacique]

Need to check spelling
Username; retarted
Password: username

[trebb]

He said, "The editorial board and the newsroom are distinctly separate departments of the company, on separate floors of the building. We don't know what they're going to write about, and they don't know what we're going to write about. And that's as it should be."

Gee, me and my computer are in separate countries from some of my friends who are stationed overseas and we have no trouble at all telling each other what is going on in our own "separate" spheres.

I would imagine that the integrity of the newspaper would keep that from happening though. /sarcasm

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I know. It's laughable.

[Cacique]

corrected post #8

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It's time to stop being scared by old media.

There are other news outlets and people know where to find them.

[cajungirl]

This is a mistake on Ehrlich's part. Just my opinion.

[BenLurkin]

When I saw the headline I guessed it was a democrat politician. Surprising that a Republican would be so thin skinned.

[cajungirl]

yep, should have been done quietly not upfront. Olesker is a massive pain in the butt, I detest that little sniveler and always did but he is loved by alot of Baltimorons.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thanks for the feedback.