OPEN LETTER TO THE NEW YORK TIMES: HIRE SKWIRE, FIRE DOWD.
diane.mcnulty@nytimes.com
Clark Hoyt, public editor: public@nytimes.com
Dear Diane and Clark:
I point you to the following website, associated with the Philadelphia Weekly…
Brendan Skwire is performing an invaluable public service today: The Philly blogger is fact-checking Maureen Dowd — and, by extension, Sen. John McCain — on her characterization of a number of “pork” earmarks in a new spending bill before Congress….
There’s other posts, and more to come, apparently, in Brendan’s series. I won’t make the case that every earmark is a worthy thing, nor that all 9,000 earmarks in this particular bill are wise and just. But I think Brendan is doing a smart thing to push back against politics by punchline — the same scenario that had Bobby Jindal mocking volcano monitoring that could well save lives. The fact that he’s doing it on his own time just makes it a little more amazing.
…which accurately points out that I’m doing maureen dowd’s work for her! By contrast, the only “amazing” thing about Dowd’s column is that she clearly didn’t do even the minimum to make sure her column was accurate.
At present, i have spoken with or have messages pending for every single organization, research center, and government agency derided by Ms. Dowd’s fascinating twitter session with John McCain. With the exception of those who haven’t called me back yet every single one justified, in plain, easy to understand English, the importance of their programs and their funding.
Again, I ask you: does anyone fact check Maureen Dowd’s work? Is it the policy of the Times op-ed page to misrepresent the facts? Does the Times believe publishing work based on a single highly partisan source (ie, the loser of the 2008 presidential election) is good journalism or opinion-making? Is Maureen Dowd’s obvious cut-and-paste “work” really worth whatever substantial sum you’re paying her?
Given your newspaper’s current financial straits, I think it’s time to make a change. Dowd is clearly ripping you off: I don’t believe she did anything more than cut and paste Mr. McCain’s comments into her column, and dashed of a snarky introduction and conclusion. Anyone can do that!
I think it is high time that you rid yourself of a weak link like Maureen Dowd, who clearly isn’t pulling her weight. You should hire ME instead: not only are my salary requirements substantially smaller than Dowd’s, I would work from home, saving you valuable office space, computers, and related costs. At the very least, I think I am owed a reimbursement for all the phone calls i have made to correct Dowd’s shoddy, shallow work, as well as a column on your op-ed pages responding directly to Dowd. I think i have earned this honor due to my diligent work, my dedication, my volunteer effort, and my deep belief in doing actual research, the foundation of all good journalism.
I look forward to your prompt reponse, and I’m surprised you haven’t contacted me yet, given that I have emailed you a copy of almost every single correction.
If I don’t hear from you by tomorrow morning, I’ll make sure to call you. Please check your email for the resume I sent earlier today. I look forward to contributing my skills to the New York Times.
Brendan Skwire
March 4th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Damn! This is so good. If there is anything I can do to help you say so. I’ll write an email supporting your hiring. These people have no shame & need to be called out. good luck!
March 4th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Oh, man, am I glad I laid off my post long enough to link this to it.