Jul 14, 2008

Uh Oh.

Turns out the new AP Washington editor is a bit of a right wing douchebag. Ron Fournier just took over for Sandy Johnson in May and some people have noticed a difference in reporting. Turns out there is a reason.
Karl Rove exchanged e-mails about Pat Tillman with Associated Press reporter Ron Fournier, under the subject line “H-E-R-O.” In response to Mr. Fournier’s e-mail, Mr. Rove asked, “How does our country continue to produce men and women like this,” to which Mr. Fournier replied, “The Lord creates men and women like this all over the world. But only the great and free countries allow them to flourish. Keep up the fight.”

Super. And Sandy Johnson seems to think Fournier is a giant pile of shit.
Ron Fournier says he regards Sandy Johnson, his predecessor as head of The Associated Press’s Washington bureau, as “a mentor.”

Johnson, though, regards Fournier, who replaced her in a hard-feelings shake-up in May, as a threat to one of the most influential institutions in American journalism.

“I loved the Washington bureau,” said Johnson, who left the AP after losing the prestigious position. “I just hope he doesn’t destroy it.”

Oh, he's well on his way, Sandy. Fournier has implemented a new "style" at the AP. He wants reporters to write articles with "first-person writing and emotive language."

The new approach was on display in a Liz Sidoti news analysis written earlier this month with the lead, “John McCain calls himself an underdog. That may be an understatement.”

Last week Beth Fouhy’s dispatch on her feelings about the end of Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign began, “I miss Hillary.”

Holy shit. I miss journalism.

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