'S.F. Chronicle' Won't Reinstate Columnist (Stephanie Salter Column ENDED!)

Editor & Publisher ^ | September 6, 2002 | Dave Astor

[Timesink]

SEPTEMBER 06, 2002

'S.F. Chronicle' Won't Reinstate Columnist

Salter Loses Op-Ed Column After 16 Years

By Dave Astor

NEW YORK -- The San Francisco Chronicle won't reinstate longtime columnist Stephanie Salter despite a reported 1,200 e-mails from upset readers, a protest rally, and canceled subscriptions.

"Newspapers say they want to connect with readers," Salter told E&P Online. "I would stack my connection with readers against any Op-Ed columnist."

Salter, with the help of union protection, was transferred to a new Chronicle job as a reporter for the Sunday "Insight" section. But she feels bad for readers that no longer have a left-of-center, twice-weekly Op-Ed column like hers representing them in the paper. "They're being dissed," said Salter, who has been nationally distributed by the Hearst News Service and Scripps Howard News Service.

There have been reports that Chronicle Publisher John Oppedahl wanted Salter, 52, to stop writing her 16-year-old column because it was too liberal and feminist for his tastes. "I was told it didn't resonate with him," said Salter.

Chronicle Editorial Page Editor John Diaz said ideology was not a factor, noting that there are still liberal views in the paper's opinion mix.

So why was Salter's column ended? Diaz said the Chronicle is committed to making changes in various departments, including the one he heads. "Editorial pages have a tendency to become predictable," he said. "We want to find new ways to become less predictable."

Diaz, who said Salter has not been replaced with a specific columnist, did emphasize: "I like Stephanie very much personally and I respect her professionally. There is no question she had a readership. It was a difficult decision."

National Society of Newspaper Columnists President Mike Leonard is not pleased with what the paper did. "There are any number of disturbing elements to the Chronicle's decision to ax Stephanie Salter's column, from the wisdom of the decision itself, to the callousness with which the Hearst Corp. dealt with a dedicated employee, to the company's inability to be forthright in telling the public of its decision to terminate Stephanie's column," said The Herald-Times of Bloomington, Ind., writer. "If the Chronicle had decided to yank a cartoon strip and it received the kind of reader reaction it did when other news sources reported on the plan to eliminate Salter, I feel pretty confident that the newspaper would capitulate. It's too bad that Stephanie didn't get the kind of respect the Chronicle likely would have given 'Nancy.'"

But Chronicle Director of Public Relations Joe Brown (to whom E&P Online was referred after it called Oppedahl's office) said: "Newspapers can't make decisions based on campaigns, threats, or boycotts. If they did, another group could come along the next week and use the same tactics."

The exact number of canceled subscriptions could not be ascertained. The Aug. 28 rally drew about 130 people, according to a story in The Examiner of San Francisco.

Salter is not the first person to lose or stop a Chronicle column this year. During the winter, the paper ended Adair Lara's 12-year feature column and reassigned her as a reporter covering generational issues. Is there a connection between the decisions? "All I know is that two high-profile women over 50 got columns killed," said Salter.

Also, Chronicle/United Media commentator Chris Matthews wrote his farewell column Sept. 1 after a 15-year run. He could not be reached for comment, but Brown said: "It was his decision. He decided to increase his TV workload."

Matthews, who recently had a serious bout with malaria, is the host of "Hardball" on MSNBC and is scheduled to start a Sunday-morning show this fall on NBC.

[Timesink]

Most of you probably remember Stephanie Salter. I think it's nothing short of a miracle that a paper as liberal as the Chronicle actually dumped her.

[evolved_rage]

Cool. Every time the SF Comical calls I tell them they are a left-wing rag, and I don't want a free 4 week subscription because I don't own a bird.

[holyscroller]

Out local fish wrapper just dropped the only Conservative columnist in the rag, so I dropped them and told them why. Now they still keep delivering the paper free. The newspapers are desperate for readers so they can keep the advertising rates high. The only part of the papers worth reading these days is the ads. Thanks to FreeRepublic, I know the news days before it hits the local paper.

[cricket]

. . .don't own a . . .oh!

a flip the bird bump!

[evolved_rage]

The SF Comical is not a fit bird cage liner.

[ZULU]

You are right on target. I no longer subscribe to ANY newspaper. I get my news quick and accurate from sources on the NET and talk radio - Radio Free America.

The yellow journalism of the liberal left has sounded its own death knell through its blatantly transparent bias. So have T.V. leftists like Mr. Marlow Thomas.

[rogue yam]

"Chronicle Editorial Page Editor John Diaz said ideology was not a factor, noting that there are still liberal views in the paper's opinion mix."

Stop it, J.D., you're killin' me here! Opinion "mix"? There is no major-city daily more monolithic in its anti-American idiocy than the S.F. Chron. Why, if I could FReep on BART they'd never get another quarter from me ever again.

r.y.

[thegreatbeast]

Funny stuff! I read the "I'm Jesus" column. What a friggin impudent tart! After sixteen years of writing impoverished stream of consciousness, she feels entitled to a place to vent, I guess.
Listen to this folderel from her as Jesus, "Some very sick, twisted and hate-filled men have inflicted great suffering upon you and your people. They have murdered in the name of The One Who Creates All, and they seem determined to go on
murdering." Well, she fooled me! If that isn't the authentic voice of my Lord & Savior then I don't know what is!
Syphlitic twaddle.

[bootless]

Of course, the NYT's spin on this incident is incredible. To hear them spin it, you'd think the Chron is going conservative. Not a chance. Debra Saunders is the only conservative columnist on the op-ed page, and she's got pull because she's nationally syndicated.

Women over 50? Please.

[bootless]

Oops - my bad. Not the New York Times - Editor & Publisher.

[skeeter]

But she feels bad for readers that no longer have a left-of-center, twice-weekly Op-Ed column like hers representing them in the paper.

Well those left of center, twice weekly op ed column readers will just have to make due with the Chronicle's left of center seven-times-weekly front page op-ed stuff.

[bankwalker]

I get my news quick and accurate from sources on the NET and talk radio - Radio Free America.

Newpapers and TV are one-way propaganda machines.

Talk radio was the fist step toward freedom. We can all thank the great Bob Grant for pioneering the 2 way talk radio format.

The internet has recently blown talk radio away as far as volume of info and speed of delivery. FreeRepublic.com has taken the net to a new level by allowing free discussion and debate that talk radio can only dream of. Thank you Jim Robinson for your contribution.

Someday every household will be online and everyone will Freep. Then we will be free at last. Thank you God.

[galt-jw]

good one.

[Gumlegs]

Really? When the NY Times bothers me, I tell them my bird has higher standards.

[Numbers Guy]

It's too bad that Stephanie didn't get the kind of respect the Chronicle likely would have given "Nancy".

"Nancy" has more relevance than Salter.

[San Jacinto]

I don't want a free 4 week subscription because I don't own a bird.

That's exactly what I tell the door-knockers when they come and offer to throw the Fort Worth Star Telegram in my yard. I also told the paper route person that he should be charged with littering.

After I cancelled the subscription about 8 years ago, they called me and asked why I had cancelled. I told them I was sick of the liberal columnists and the slanted news coverage. I could tell that the lady asking the question had heard those responses many times before.

[weegee]

"If the Chronicle had decided to yank a cartoon strip and it received the kind of reader reaction it did when other news sources reported on the plan to eliminate Salter, I feel pretty confident that the newspaper would capitulate."

The comics page has a lot more impact on newspaper subscriptions than the appearance of a specific editorial columnist. The appearance of some editorials will cause a subscriber to drop a newspaper subscription, this is not likely to be the case with a comic strip (unless it is one that editorializes like Doonsbury, Cathy, etc.).

[NYCVirago]

Women over 50? Please.

Yeah, it's funny how Ms. Salter didn't seem to have a problem with getting her op-ed column at the age of 36. Why didn't she suggest then that a woman over 50 get the chance instead?

[cricket]

"What a friggin impudent tart!"

. . .indeed; and don't forget 'arrogant, insufferable Marxist/Left-wing writer of the trivial and inferior' :*)

[Plutarch]

Hmmm, Ann Coulter is around 40, so that wouldn't be age discrimination. Would be great to see the protests over that!