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From January, 2006:
Few readers here will forget Robert Stokely's moving tribute to his son Mike. Shortly after we published that the Washington Post ran a piece titled "A Life, Wasted" written by the father of a Marine who was killed in Iraq.
At the time I recall thinking of the contrast between the two stories - and their placement. Probably nothing better defines the divide between the old guard media and the blogs - I would have published either story here. (In fact, a link to the Washington Post story was included in that day's Dawn Patrol.) But apparently the Post is a bit more choosy in what they present.
It seems Mr Stokely saw that Washington Post column too, and submitted his story to them. They rejected it, explaining "we rarely publish pieces that have been published elsewhere or have been widely circulated." That criteria having been met here, it would seem. This will no doubt be quite a surprise to the folks at AP, Reuters, or any other widely distributed news agencies that will - we must assume - soon discover their contributions are no longer welcome at the Washington Post.
Mr Stokely replied to the Post:
If I understand your explanation why you would not print my letter about my son, SGT MIKE STOKELY, KIA 16 AUG 05, IRAQ / IED, it is because my letter was previously used and "widely circulated". First, I am sure that can be taken as a great compliment to the blogs that used my letter - to be known as a wide means of circulation. However, I am curious to know how many times the Washington Post published, most likely front page, the thoughts and views of Cindy Sheehan - probably the most widely circulated and published thoughts of anybody on the war in Iraq, including any parent who has lost a son or daughter?
There's more here. Some folks are considering paying to have Mr Stokely's comments published in the WaPo - I'd say it's perhaps more appropriate to have the Post pay for rejecting a tribute from a father to his son - a son who fell defending their freedom to publish whatever they choose.
Their choice in this case was a perfect follow up to their hit job on Bill Roggio, and as justifiable as their rejection of support for the "Freedom Walk" (according to staffers there: "arguments that the Freedom Walk is anything other than a political activity -- and indeed, a political activity in support of the war in Iraq -- should be put to rest by the prominent participation of country music star Clint Black, best known of late for his war-glorifying song 'Iraq and I Roll.'") and as blatantly obvious as their enthusiastic support (to the point of publishing easily verifiable but false claims about the nature or number of protestors) of the competing anti-war rally that followed.
So help spread the word.
2006-01-11 15:33:33
