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New York Times editor Bill Keller notified the staff today that disgraced reporter Jayson Blair's new book will be ignored by the paper. He also warned that it contains "hurtful" claims about the paper and staff members.
His memo follows:
To the staff:Jayson Blair's book, advance copies of which have begun to circulate, does not merit much attention. The author is an admitted fabricator. (Chapter one begins,"I lied and I lied -- and then I lied some more.") The book pretends to be a mea culpa, but ends up spewing imaginary blame in all directions. We don't intend to respond to Jayson or his book.
But after reviewing an advance copy we did want to convey something to the staff. Some of you may find the smears hurtful, even if they are utterly lacking in credibility. It pains us that, after all we have done together to put this newspaper right, any of you should be subjected to this. We just wanted to state the obvious, that nothing in this work diminishes our trust in this amazing staff, or in the integrity of our great enterprise. Arthur has asked us to let you know that he wholeheartedly concurs.
Bill & Jill & John
The signers are Executive Editor Bill Keller and managing editors Jill Abramson and John M. Geddes.
True. But publicity about all newspaper's ignoring the book will be exactly what his pubs would love to sell the damn thing. Heck, publicity on the memo at the NYT alone, will fuel some of it.....
Posted by: ben at February 23, 2004 06:42 PMIt's probably asking for too much to hope that the scruples of average consumers will deter them from actually purchasing copies of the book. It wouldn't be published at all if there wasn't a market for it.
Posted by: Beth at February 24, 2004 08:41 AM"scrupples of average consumers"
If there was such a thing would we have televised police chases, reality television and gavel to gavel coverage of Jacko, the Petersen trial, etc...
Unfortunately, there is an apetite for all of this, including Blair's book.
Posted by: ben at February 24, 2004 09:45 AMI'm surprised Oprah hasn't rushed to embrace it for her Book Club.
Posted by: Rodger Jacobs at February 24, 2004 10:44 AMIt's very hurtful that tripe such as this can be published when there are many struggling authors still trying to find an editor or publisher for their own fiction - which at least is as stated, fiction.
Posted by: scott finley at February 24, 2004 11:37 AMI can't let the nasty comment posted by Mr. Jacobs with his slam at Oprah Winfrey stand unanswered. I can't imagine she would ever dignify tripe with her attention, and the books she has chosen have all been literature worthy of readership. What do you achieve by spitting in her face? Blair, his book, attention he may garner, and the NYT's response to him bear no relevance to Oprah and her book choices.
Posted by: Yvonne at February 27, 2004 12:49 PM
of LA Observed
Wouldn't it be nice if all newspapers in U.S. chose to ignore Blair's book?
Posted by: Daniel Hunt at February 23, 2004 03:58 PM