Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Arkansas Media Mara Leveritt responds
Posted by Max Brantley on Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 10:55 AM
DOG columnist Linda Caillouet took a cheap shot at Mara Leveritt and the Times this morning by suggesting an ethical shortcoming in Mara's work to publicize last weekend's benefit concert for the West Memphis Three. Mara, who is a periodic contributor to this paper, has been a declared advocate for this cause for years. The movement to free the WM3 rests on the foundation of her careful reporting and her book, "Devil's Knot."
On the jump, you'll find a letter Mara wrote to the columnist about it, along with a link to the YouTube video below in which Mara described her evolution as WM3 advocate. As for the Times, we've never made a secret of, or an apology for, drawing conclusions based on our reporting and advocating important causes. We don't now.
PS — Maybe Caillouet is just in a bad mood. I've been hearing some griping about the D-G's coming "upgrade" of the hated newsroom time clock with a fingerprint scanner, as opposed to a scanner that required only an ID card.
MARA LEVERITT'S LETTER
Dear Linda,
I’m sorry you didn’t call me to ask about my presumed conflict of interest. I would have been happy to tell you “the rest of the story,” which is this: I have been writing about the West Memphis case since 1994. Most of what I’ve written, including Devil’s Knot, I’ve written as a reporter, holding to what I believe are high standards of fairness and accuracy. Over the years, I have also written columns and opinion pieces about the case, based on what I’ve learned.
As support for the convicted men grew, public officials here in Arkansas began to receive volumes of mail critical of their trials. In turn, as local media began to ask questions the response of many officials was that Arkansans were confident that the right men were in prison. They added that the complainers were people from out-of-state who didn’t know what really happened. About four years ago, upon hearing that response yet again, I decided to speak out. After all, I am an Arkansan and, having reported on this case in depth, I do know what transpired. At a time when few people in Arkansas understood the gravity of this situation, I felt that working to call attention to the case was the responsible thing to do. I wrote to Max Brantley, my editor at the Arkansas Times, and told him that, while I intended to continue to report on the case, I was also going to speak out, denouncing all that was wrong with the trials and advocating for new—and fair—ones. Max said okay, and that is what I’ve done since.
I have been very up-front about this, both in writing and in public appearances. If you took the time, for instance, you could hear me explain this transition in a talk I gave recently at North Little Rock’s Laman Library, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAdH_aB4HJk. I have a good reputation, which I value. Perhaps because of that, and because I have been so forthright about my dual roles in this matter, no one that I know of—until you—has suggested a “problem” with my ethics.
I did enjoy meeting you at the Capitol Hotel bar Saturday night, but I think you took a cheap—and uninformed—shot this morning. I hope you’ll be able to find a few words in a future column to explain that, like many fine journalists before me, I have taken a public stand opposing an abuse of power.
Sincerely,
Mara
Speaking of...
-
The Boys on the Tracks heading to the big screen
May 9, 2012Variety reports that Keir Person, who wrote "Hotel Rwanda," will direct the movie being made of Mara Leveritt's book, "The Boys on the Tracks." /more/
-
Griffin Smith to step down as editor of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
April 30, 2012Griffin Smith has announced his resignation as executive editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. /more/
-
Supreme Court grants hearing for Death Row's Timothy Howard
April 26, 2012The Arkansas Supreme Court has ordered a further hearing on the DNA claim of a Death Row inmate, Timothy Howard, that state suppression of critical problems with DNA evidence prejudiced his fair trial. /more/
-
We're over the hump
April 18, 2012Gov. Mike Beebe is back. Dan Rather was right on George W. Bush's military records. An Oklahoma legislator fights back against anti-abortion Republicans with an anti-masturbation bill (video). /more/
-
Vows: Jay Barth and Chuck Cliett
April 4, 2012I've mentioned before that because the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and its affiliated newspapers in Northwest Arkansas won't publish marriage announcements by same-sex couples, the Arkansas Times is happy to provide that service. /more/
-
Ellington on the WM3
March 26, 2012Scott Ellington, the prosecuting attorney in the West Memphis Three hearing last year, told a Memphis TV station that he asked the defense to come up with a guilty plea offer that would allow Damien Echols, Jessie Miskelley and Jason Baldwin to go free. /more/
-
Jason Baldwin's new life in the west
March 21, 2012Great little story in Seattle Weekly today about Jason Baldwin's efforts to rebuild his life in Seattle since he, Jessie Misskelley and Damien Echols were released from prison last summer. /more/
-
West Memphis Three reward fund increased to $200,000
March 14, 2012An anonymous donor has added $100,000 to make a $200,000 reward fund for information leading to the killers of three West Memphis boys in 1993. /more/
-
Doonesbury strips published in Democrat-Gazette
March 12, 2012The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is running Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip this week despite the controversial topic of abortion. /more/
-
Doonesbury gets tough on Republican abortion bills
March 9, 2012Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip will stir up one of its periodic fusses next week with a series of panels on invasive abortion legislation by Republican legislatures around the country, according to Jim Romenesko. /more/
- More »
Comments (15)
Showing 1-15 of 15
Thanks for alerting us to this situation, Max. I don't read any DoG columns except Gene Lyons, so I would have missed it.
like
dislike
I read Caillouet about 50% of the time. Some days she's got some interesting stuff, some days it's pretty dull. Overall, I'd give her a C+ or B- if I was in the bidness of grading her work. No secret I'd give Wally a D- or F.
But now, Mara Leveritt? Better not nobody go messin' round with that lady in my presence. She's top-notch. Love her work. She gets an A. On all of it; books, columns, whatever. She'd be at my fantasy dinner if ever I had one of those things.
As for Caillouet being in a bad mood, well hey, it happens. Think things have not been terribly smooth for the lady of late; divorce is often a necessity but isn't always easy, or so I hear. Hope I never have to experience one to find out for sure.
Anyway, let's hope the ladies get things worked out. And the sooner the better. Life's too short for ordinary jewelry and the same can be said for fusses.
Is the Democrat-Gazette really worth 50 cents?
Louie and Cato should catch that one.
The DOG, a news paper long known for its bigotry against minorities & bias against all but the most wealthy has the audacity to accuse a real reporter of conflict of interest? No doubt they’ll trot out the victim label while real victims are ignored, abused & tortured.
“Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.” Paulo Freire
OK, Max, the judges grant you a cheap shot point on that one.
Does that mean no more cheap shots from your side of the net? Since when?
Yep, eL, some of us notice the avatars. And your's of Miss Sarah makes her look, well, pretty 'hippy', don't you think?
“The DOG, a news paper long known for its bigotry against minorities . . .”
Oh, come now, Zatharus. That’s totally over the top, The chief editorial writer is a Jew who in 1969 won a Pulitzer Prize at the Pine Bluff Commercial for his editorials during the civil rights struggle. He was also a Pulitzer finalist in 1978 and 1986. While they disgust many of us here, Greenberg's and the publisher's anti-LRSD editorials don't equate to them or anybody else at "The DOG" being bigots.
Caillouet is a gossip columnist; nothing more, nothing less. She can cover the trite things in life as she always does, she should leave the heavy lifting [of real news and analysis] to someone with insight skills higher than the social page fluffs.
Linda is horrible. every other day she has to run a correction of a previous column.
ridiculous. she is a waste of space in an already shrinking paper.
Move her out.
Well, color me dull, but I don't see a problem. Perhaps Linda could expand on the thought? Right after, I suppose, she breathlessly tells us who hoofs it to his next gig.
That Caillouet wrote of anything of substance is news. That she got it wrong on her first try, a pity. Now she won't try it again.
More by Author
-
Now Mitt Romney wants to Bork us
So many provocations, so little space and time. But Ernest Dumas picks up one of Mitt Romney's many thoughtless utterances and views it with some alarm.
- May 1, 2012
-
Curt Schilling, GOP small govt. man, seeks taxpayer welfare
Rich. Curt Schilling, well-paid major league pitcher and long-time advocate of small government and personal responsibility as a campaign shill for Republican presidential candidates, has his hand out for Rhode Island corporate welfare to prop up his ailing video game company, in apparent default on state loans.
- May 18, 2012
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: Riverfest eve open line UPDATE
Hell, folks, all he did was pose for a picture with them. They are citizens…
- on May 24, 2012
-
Re: Riverfest eve open line UPDATE
Thanks to elwood for important citywire story on the newspapers of NWA. Plainjim has it…
- on May 24, 2012
-
Re: Surgeon general strikes deal on disturbance charges
That's what I meant, RYD, about getting your revenge later.
- on May 24, 2012
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Slideshows
-
Police close the Occupy Little Rock camp, perhaps the last Occupy encampment on public land.
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
