Shortly after James Stephens III was named "Tar Heel of the Week" by the News & Observer (story here), his wife contacted the N&O to ask how somebody with an assault record could be named Tar Heel of the Week, according to the tipster.
James Stephens III was reportedly selected for the honor by a friend of N&O publisher, Orage Quarles. Due to a series of goof ups by the local sheriff's department, Stephens' assault arrest from December didn't emerge during the background check.
But once Stephens' wife (the victim) relayed information about the arrest, N&O reporters wanted to do a followup story disclosing the new information to readers -- but senior editor Linda Williams inserted herself in the situation and told the reporters to leave it alone.
Williams apparently says Stephens' possible arrest is "not important" and the reporters should move along. Reporters are not happy that Williams is clamping down on information that should be shared with N&O subscribers.
UPDATED: John Drescher told John in Carolina this report is not true and the N&O is working on a response.
UPDATED #2: Matt Ehlers photo removed 4/28 at request of N&O.
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UPDATE #3: N&O finally publishes pitiful response... N&O reports assault charge but doesn't mention whether Linda Williams tried to spike the story.
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33 comments:
Stephens' is probably the best the N & O can do. It’s like Obama’s cabinet members, crooks, tax cheats, and liars, are fine upstanding members of society in the warped world of liberals.
Why wouldn’t Williams think a black man beating his wife was important? Just when I think Williams couldn’t be more disgusting, she proves that she is. If not for affirmative action, she would not be in a position to continually suppress the news to fit her worldview. If it takes closing down the whole shebang to rid the area of her person, I say sobeit. And, make that soon, please!
It is a good thing he was not a lacrosse player.
A white lacrosse player. Then Linda Williams would lynch him.
Bu,Bu,But...I thought Linda Williams was a good egg that was not afraid to say what others were not?
What happened? Where is our Linda Williams defender on this subject. I am sure he/she/it has a perfectly reasonable explanation. You know, like you are all racists for even mentioning this and it was probably Sarah Palin that leaked this unhelpful story that isn't really a story.
I just called the N&O and seemingly the editorial nor the newsroom seemed to anxious to discuss this, actually neither acted like I knew what I was talking about when pressed. I just had a talk with a reporter today about credibility and the ability to just report the facts about a case. Not skewed ideas, facts.
Awhile back the one fan Williams has, wrote that Linda is not a bad egg, and I can see what they meant now. She is not a bad egg, she is a rotten egg! Her ‘fowl’ odor is ever present.
I see your point.
"A white lacrosse player. Then Linda Williams would lynch him."
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Is that social justice in her world view I wonder? Righting wrongs, justifying her lying for the good of mankind, and that sort of thing?
The media is corrupt beyond repair. Linda Williams was part of the group that withheld information that would have cleared the lacrosse players months ahead of the final innocent declaration. Letting young men suffer rather that cutoff their juicy story? What do you call that? Sick, it is totally sick, and the N & O deserves the fate that faces them now. Their little newsroom of misfits they have clung to, are perfect specimens to watch dangle in the wind.
I need more popcorn over here!
AH LINDA WILLIAMS.
Faux news', raciest of the century, meets the Enquirer.
But is it racism? Having one of the brothers beat a sister, is probably so part of her experience, that she saw it as no big deal.
So what would her punishment be? IN MNI's lib, Marxist world, Nothing of course.
These people are about as sick as they come. Any MNI creature jackal want to defend this stupid idiot?
PLEASE, PLEASE POST YOUR PIC OF WILLIAMS AGAIN
It's called socialist realism (and yes, there is a name for that theory of journalism). It was (is) considered one of the most effective tools of Stalinist theory. In essence everything, art, journalism, etc must forward the goal of socialism.
If something runs contrary to the organization's goals, or agenda, it isn't newsworthy. This is a clear cut example. The Kansas City Star (as it would appear are the majority of McClatchy newspapers) is run by this model.
BUT WE KNEW HE WAS CHEAP, UNLESS IT'S OUR MONEY
Obamas prove stingy with (daughter's) school auction
When Chelsea Clinton was a student at the Sidwell Friends School, the same school the Obama girls attend, the Clinton family’s involvement with the school’s annual benefit brought in big bucks. In 1996, a round of golf with Bill Clinton went for nearly six figures;
This past weekend was the Obamas’ first chance to participate in the Sidwell Friends School Dollars for Scholars benefit, and some families who remember the Clintons’ support are disappointed in the Obamas’ first showing.
According to a source with ties to the school, the only items up for bid from the Obamas included a signed copy of the Rolling Stone issue featuring the president and a signed copy of the January Vogue that featured the first lady.
“There were expectations that they might donate something more personal, like the Clintons did,” said another source who knew about the auction. “Lots of people were disappointed.”
A spokesperson for the Obamas said, “We have no comment on this.”
"PLEASE, PLEASE POST YOUR PIC OF WILLIAMS AGAIN"
Forget that, her face can stop a clock. I am not sure about my watch, but I need it.
I wonder if “hold the truth” Williams will blame Barry-O for losing her job? If I remember right, every bad thing that happens in the universe can be directly traced back to the president of the USA. We used to have a Texas cowboy, and now we have a Chicago thug, but that shouldn’t change the blame game rules in general I wouldn’t think.
Wow. I knew she was a terrible journalist, but this is just absolutely poor. The lacrosse story was one thing, this is much more blatant, far fewer questions and less room for subjectivity. Linda Darnell, you've outdone yourself this time.
Sadly, I bet she either doesn't know this blog exists because she's not terribly in tune with the internet, or she thinks it's a bunch of white people spreading more hate speech. She is so self-absorbed, she'll never be able to see how truly hurtful she is to her people and all people. It makes me sad, really.
3:38 She doesn't care. They're so arrogant that they'll destroy everything to keep pushing their agenda. It's not their newspaper and what good is it if you can't run it the way you want?
“BUT WE KNEW HE WAS CHEAP, UNLESS IT'S OUR MONEY”
Now just hold on here, I heard Bill Clinton helped the auction with a donation from his special stock of Lewinski cigars. Obama only smokes cigarettes as far as we know, so that is not a good comparison. Give the Bam more time, he used to use a little blow, when he could afford it. Time will tell.
So, The “Tar heel of the Week” is a wife beater? That just shows you how low the N&O really is. What next, Crystal Mangum is the Tar Heel of the Week? How about one of the Black Panthers that threatened voters? How about the ACORN community organizers? Why, the N&O can pull out so many upstanding characters, it boggles the mind. Williams can cherry pick their pasts to suit her personal preferences. Buh, bye, Linda.
See James in action on You Tube, he makes fun of people in NC. He says, “Preachers in NC can’t even read.“ That ought to make him 'Tar Heel of the Week' right there.
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James Stephens III live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtYyKJvs7Zg
"Hold the Truth" williams.
Very funny!
"Hey, hey, ho, ho, your affirmative ass has got to go."
"Hey, hey, ho, ho, your affirmative ass has got to go."
Wow, not a single comment after the article. Maybe this is acceptable in that area of the country?
So why doesn't someone who is registered at that site add a comment? Just a simple statement and question should get the ball rolling.
John In Carolina is on this story. He can be point man for us. N & O says abuse story not held back, more coming as soon as they get their facts straight? Which means never!
The N & O is getting payback, this is so delicious.
Even if they knew Williams spiked the story for racial reasons, nothing would happen to an affirmative person. That is just the way it is.
Your tipster's full of crap. Don't you ever check anything out?
Hack.
anom900pm er...should I say Linda...STFU...idiot
It's 9:00 Do you know where your troll is? Time to send his "uncle" on his way so you can go down the basement and make him get ready for bed.
I love this blog. Racists. Failed newspaper people. Talk radio fans. America's last remaining Republicans.
It's like going to the zoo.
At least John in Carolina knows how to use the telephone:
I’ve just called N&O executive editor John Drescher to confirm the report. He said it's “not true.”
”There is no truth to a report we quashed a follow-up story on Mr. Stephens. Our readers should look forward to reading a follow-up story to the original ‘Tar Heel of the Week’ story."
Asked when that story would appear, Drescher said it was being “worked on now. When all the fact-checking is complete, we’ll publish it.”
ANON 5:59:
Drescher said, "When all the fact-checking is complete, we’ll publish it.”
Wink, wink. Ah..., the old stand by. Along with, we're not biased, and we don't repeat DNC talking points (Ahmed)
like most papers, MNI never let's the facts get in the way of their story (until caught).
Yes, checking facts is a stand-by. It's what distinguishes newspapers from the rest of the garbage out there.
All credit to John in Carolina for making an attempt to get comment and ferret out the real story. Brave of him.
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