Ferro talks about the Dave McKinney incident
Thursday, Mar 10, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Michael Ferro, who has taken over the Tribune and used to be the largest shareholder of the Sun-Times, told the Trib that he does not get involved in editorial decisions. “That’s not my gig”…
One incident in particular led to a public discussion as to whether Ferro’s influence crossed over into editorial decisions at the Sun-Times. It began with an unflattering October 2014 article by political reporter Dave McKinney about then-Republican gubernatorial candidate Rauner, an original Wrapports investor who sold his 10 percent stake back to Ferro before entering the race.
The Rauner campaign raised concerns with the Sun-Times that McKinney’s marriage to Democratic political strategist Ann Liston represented an “extraordinary” conflict of interest.
McKinney said he was placed on leave two days after his Rauner story ran. He resigned two weeks later, suggesting at the time he was taken off his beat by Ferro in retaliation for the story.
Ferro said he had nothing to do with that decision.
“By the time it came to me, they just wanted to tell me what was going on,” Ferro said. “The only advice I gave them was to do the right thing. … This is a funny thing about journalists. They don’t like being questioned about their honor, but they question everybody’s honor every day.”
Hmm. All he said was “Do the right thing”? OK, but I doubt he needed to give them a road map to arrive at Ferro’s preferred “right thing” destination in that case.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
Ferro… Rauner… Sgt. Schultz.
With a quote like that from Ferro I’d be worried about being McKinneyed over there at Tribune Tower.
===This is a funny thing about journalists. They don’t like being questioned about their honor, but they question everybody’s honor every day.”===
Plausible deniability.
Strong leadership.
- Albany Park Patriot - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
So, a newspaper publisher does not understand how power and influence works and corrupts? What a terrible interview. He’s either not telling the truth or is ignorant. Neither one is a good thing.
- chi - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
I’m no Ferro fan, and I am a McKinney fan, but that quote, it’s a good quote.
- siriusly - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
For a guy who loves to own newspapers he sure hates journalists!
Sounds like a rich guy who wants to control media content, not support independent journalism.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:03 pm:
Yes. Well, OK, but did he say “DO the right thing,” or “Do the RIGHT thing?”
- Wensicia - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:03 pm:
Ferro’s idea of the right thing includes a bus.
- Springfieldish - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
If Ferro said those things at trial or in a deposition, in that order, first with the “I had nothing to do with it,” followed by the gratuitous, “They don’t like being questioned about their honor, but they question everybody’s honor every day(,)” his lawyer would be doing back-flips. No one offers gratuitous comments like that if they didn’t have anything to do with the decision in the first place. A jury, like the readers here, rightfully wouldn’t believe him.
- siriusly - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
He’s a TurnAround artist.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:25 pm:
Sadly, Zorn and Monique must now wonder whether Ferro will want to “do the right thing” to them, too.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:28 pm:
Oh PLEASE! How dumb do we all look? Seriously, between Brown denying Madigan’s role with Stratton and this, today must be “Bring your best lie to work day” in Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:28 pm:
- Keyrock -
Ah, well, Zorn already told me a thing or three, he has no worries…
That’s fun.
- In a Minute - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
“If Ferro said those things at trial or in a deposition…” Thats the thing, we will never know what Ferro might have said under oath because McKinney chose not to sue despite lots of noise that he would. A wise choice in my view.
This was the best objective analysis of what happened in that whole McKinney mess and it wasn’t even done by a Chicago outlet.
www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/10/23/the-monster-ethical-issue-behind-the-chicago-sun-times-resignation-story/
- Elo Kiddies - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:39 pm:
Who staffs the ST capitol bureau these days?
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 4:54 pm:
The nature of the ‘Dave McKinny incident’ can only be understood in the context of the Sun-Times abruptly reversing its policy against endorsing candidates to give a back-door endorsement to Bruce Rauner.
That ‘endorsement incident’ went unremarked upon in the Tribune’s fawning hagiography of Ferro.
– MrJM
- Independent retiree/lawyer/journalist - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 6:16 pm:
If you haven’t seen “Spotlight,” SPOILER ALERT…but this reminds me of the scene where Marty Baron goes to the publisher to tell him he intends to take on the Archdiocese. Watching the movie, I chuckled when the publisher simply told him to go ahead. To the post: I’m quite sure Ferro was just the same way…./s
- Independent retiree/lawyer/journalist - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 6:17 pm:
If you haven’t seen “Spotlight,” SPOILER ALERT…but this reminds me of the scene where Marty Baron goes to the publisher to tell him he intends to take on the Archdiocese. Watching the movie, I chuckled when the publisher simply told him to go ahead. To the post: I’m quite sure Ferro was just the same way…./s
- Chicago PR Guy - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 6:54 pm:
Elo Kiddies
You’re hilarious
- Austin Blvd - Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 6:58 pm:
He should probably do the right thing and can Kass for being an obvious shill for the GOP.