In Howard Kurtz’s Monday Media Notes column in The Washington Post today comes word that the Church of Scientology has hired three respected journalists to probe the work of the St. Petersburg Times on Scientology. The paper has focused considerable attention on its leader, David Miscavige, and what it calls a “culture of intimidation and violence” under his reign.
As Kurtz reports,
The reporters hired for the study are Russell Carollo, who won a 1998 Pulitzer for Dayton, Ohio’s Daily News for a series on medical malpractice in the U.S. military, and Christopher Szechenyi, an Emmy-winning former television producer who has worked for the Boston Globe’s Web site.
Asked about taking on the assignment, the two chose to respond in a joint statement Sunday. “We were hesitant,” they said. “That’s why we insisted on being paid in full before we started our work, total editorial independence and having someone with the reputation of Steve Weinberg [the study’s editor] involved. Every entity has the right to receive fair treatment in the press.”
While the writers say they’ll have editorial independence, the Church has the right to deep six the report if the reporters’ findings aren’t to its liking. Weinberg is a longtime writer for and friend of the Columbia Journalism Review and, in fact, invoked our name to Kurtz, saying that he
“tried to make sure it’s a good piece of journalism criticism, just like I’ve written a gazillion times…. For me it’s kind of like editing a Columbia Journalism Review piece.”
Not really. The quality of this effort is not the point as much as the fact of this effort—hiring on to help an entity notorious for bringing terrible pressure on any journalist who dares to examine it. While the pay is likely meaningful to the journalists, and we know that times are hard, it is chump change to the Church. The Church can essentially gamble that these veteran journalists will find something of value that it can use as a weapon against the Times.
That’s not a transaction we’d take part in, and we’re sorry Steve invoked our name.
“tried to make sure it’s a good piece of journalism criticism, just like I’ve written a gazillion times…. For me it’s kind of like editing a Columbia Journalism Review piece.”
So we can assume then that the CJR does not produce content that is paid for by the corporation which is the subject of the content?
Heck, if it's a good hatchet piece, maybe Steve Weinberg has a new career on his hands attacking investigative journalists for big corporate bucks-- attacking the few remaining of the species that stick their necks out for the rest of us.
Posted by John Fitzgerald Jr. on Mon 22 Feb 2010 at 08:58 PM
Although Weinberg states that he has an agreement that the COS will not release any of the report, unless they release it unedited, Tommy Davis has already announced its purported contents-- i.e. allegedly very negative of the St. Petersburg Times reporting. So the question is, what is Weinberg's response in light of Tommy Davis' release of the alleged gist of the report? Is he now going to release the whole report, is he suing the COS for breach of contract, or is he full of it?
Posted by Timmy Magnavox on Mon 22 Feb 2010 at 09:04 PM
Hear Hear!!
Posted by MAry McConnell on Mon 22 Feb 2010 at 11:34 PM
The solicitation of this journalist investigation is a an attempt by the Office of Special Affairs of the Cult of Scientology is just a Diversion away from their crimes. 100's of thousands of scientology members and ex members were subject to fiduciary constructive fraud and are or were brought to their knees financially by the cult. That is what should be investigated.
Posted by Ken on Tue 23 Feb 2010 at 01:43 AM
As an ex-scientologist I find this whole deal par for the course. Scientology has a lot of money which it isn't afraid to spend. Especially if it will help destroy an "enemy" of their cult.
The St. Petersburg Times has shown integrity and courage in the face of many attacks against it by this cult.
Some reporters aren't so easily bought. Mr. Tobin and Mr. Childs should be held up as a example of what investigative journalists should strive to be.
These three reporters are now owned by The "Church" of Scientology. They've accepted blood money. I think they'll regret their decision down the road.
Posted by Ken Reed on Tue 23 Feb 2010 at 11:09 AM
In response to Timmy Magnavox, if the report is purportedly very negative of the Times' reporting according to Tommy Davis, why doesn't Davis release the entire report? What does he have to hide by sitting on the report... why not release it right away? Pretty much anything Tommy Davis says regarding the Times is negative, because he is paid to be Scientology's PR goon. Former Scientology PR goon Mike Rinder came clean to the Times about Scientology's suspicious tactics. Do yourselves a favor and read The Truth Rundown series: http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/
I'm very disappointed that the supposed journalists involved in this "investigative" project are pimping themselves to the Church of Scientology. I guess they're desparate for money in desparate times.
Posted by Bubba on Tue 23 Feb 2010 at 02:13 PM
Excellent comment by Timmy Magnavox.
Steve Weinberg here, the journalist approached by the two investigative reporters (not by the Scientologists) to edit the study of St. Petersburg Times coverage.
If the Scientology spokesman really told Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post that the study is "highly critical" of the newspaper, I believe he now has an obligation to release the study in full, as specified in the contract. That way, anybody interested can read a high-quality work of media evaluation, and can decide whether it's highly critical. I have not dealt with that Scientology spokesman or anybody else at the organization, except to complete paperwork. But I am hoping the two reporters will do everything they can to ensure that the Scientologists place the study in the public domain.
Posted by Steve Weinberg on Wed 24 Feb 2010 at 01:08 PM
CJR makes some invaluable points and distinctions. One fact that I haven’t seen reported anywhere is that one of the “reporters” involved has spent most of the past decade as the Director of Investigations for a law firm – not for a media entity.
This is Richard Behar here – an investigative journalist and the author of two lengthy exposes on Scientology in Forbes and Time magazines (1986; 1991). Time, Inc. and I were sued by the church for libel – and spent a decade in extremely time-consuming and costly litigation until the US Supreme Court refused to hear the church’s appeals.
The St. Petersburg Times should be applauded for being the only major, independent and professional media entity in America today that is willing to put resources into ongoing coverage of the church. Whatever the results of this strange, secret study that Steve Weinberg and the two writers have crafted, it’s not investigative journalism as I have ever learned it and understood it. I urge Steve, who I have respected immensely throughout my career, to rethink his actions here. And I’m optimistic that if he thinks long and hard about this, he may even conclude that he should return the money to the church -- or donate it to a worthy charity.
And then let’s all get on with all the investigative journalism that so desperately needs to be done in the country -- now more than ever.
Posted by Richard Behar on Wed 24 Feb 2010 at 08:35 PM
As editor of The Boston Globe, let me clarify the extent of Christopher Szechenyi's involvement with Boston.com. He does not currently work at The Boston Globe or Boston.com. His time at Boston.com was sharply limited, did not represent a significant portion of his working life, and ended many years ago. Szechenyi was employed at Boston.com from March 13, 2000 until January 9, 2001. Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post seems to have made more of his very brief association with Boston.com than it deserved.
Posted by Marty Baron on Wed 24 Feb 2010 at 08:57 PM
No doubt the "reporters" now employed by the Scientologists to examine the St. Petersburg Times willl ask for, and receive, all the extra curricular, extra legal "investigative" material that has already been accumlated by private eyes. law firms, dumpster divers and who knows who else and by what method on behalf of the Scientologists. And I feel confident that these impartial judges of the behavior and intent of the newspaper will then post this raw material on the web so we call all judge for ourselves what is true. Surely sunlight is the Scientologists' friend.
Posted by allan dodds frank on Wed 24 Feb 2010 at 09:20 PM
Its all the same " except my word, follow me, join my flock and i will show you never ending happiness and joy " Jesus did it that way. Ali as well. Clinton and Reagan did the same. NBC , CBS and ABC news would fight for a larger flock. Its all the same. Most don't think , they repeat the thoughts of others.
Posted by John on Thu 25 Feb 2010 at 02:48 AM
Christopher Szechenyi, Steve Weinberg and Russell Carollo wrote and edited a work for hire with the contractual terms specifying the report would be released in full or shelved and never released.
However, since Tommy Davis has violated that contract, the three must respond forcefully and rapidly to this grievous affront to their good names and reputations. Tommy Davis, it seems, has done material harm to their good names and reputations, will they allow that?
The small statement they have made about about it and one interview concerning it are, I think, inadequate response to the injustice done to them by Davis and the Church of Scientology. They should consider, 1) returning the funds, or donating to them a worthy organization, 2) publishing the report in full and taking the legal consequences, 3) publishing a new report of some kind to set the record straight.
I wish them well, they have cast their lots with an organization known for its litigious nature, however, they need to take affirmative action to clear their names and reputations, which have been so badly sullied by Mr. Davis and the Church of Scientology.
-----
Statement and interviews: http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/02/25/scientology_hires_reporters_to_investigate_st._petersburg_times
Posted by Stephen on Thu 25 Feb 2010 at 11:38 PM
This is the same organization that went after LA Times journalist Robert Welkos. You would think fellow professionals would look out for each other.
Welkos particular adventures are documented in a Quill article that is now webbed at http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/the-quill-shudder-int-silence.htm.
Posted by Molly on Fri 26 Feb 2010 at 04:29 PM
Chris Szechenyi is a local Emmy winner, for an investigative piece done for WHDH-TV. He's been working for some non-broadcast outfits for quite a while.
http://www.bermandevalerio.com/generic.asp?id=108
Posted by Anna on Wed 3 Mar 2010 at 07:13 PM