LaGrange, Ga. sports writer

Kevin is not calling the ex-staffer out, but is just stating a fact. The dude left after five weeks and did it in a way that leaves the remaining staffer in a big time lurch. I'd be a little unhappy at that guy too. So cut Kevin some slack.

 

The guy left. It happens. But it is a personnel matter. Kevin's coming on the web stating the things he said is borderline legal suit action.
If I was the kid, I might lawyer up.

 

So you can't say for sure what you would do in Joe Schmoe's shoes?

That's all I wanted to hear.

And hey, maybe you love your shop. But if people are leaving right away to go to a smaller paper or get out of the business, maybe that's an indictment of the newsroom.

 

He wasn't named. How does he have a case?

 

I'll agree, as you tell it, that was crappy.

But is it our place to know that on a message board?

 

I'm not a lawyer and I don't think you're one either. People are sued everyday for lesser offenses.
The bottom line is that the SE shouldn't air a personnel matter on the web. Period. There's no way around it.

 

Boots, you're exaggerating. Doubt the kid really has a suit here, though given the nature of this profession, if he lawyered up, the paper likely would cave.

Doc, it's pretty transparent who the kid is. His byline suddenly disappeared from the paper, and the guy from the paper stated publicly on this message board where he's headed. I'm sure you can add A and B and confirm employment easily.

 

That's assuming I care enough to look it up. Also, for the person who said a five-week job wouldn't look good on a resume: What makes you think he'd put it on a resume?

 

Lots of things are assumed in life.

Sounds like a knee-jerk reaction to protect The Eck, who finds himself a man down in a two-man sports section and ripped his former employee a new one on a public message board.

 

Which is my point exactly. The paper wouldn't be in that type of situation had Kevin not taken this matter to the web.

 

I've never met "The Eck" and wouldn't know him from Adam. If he had a problem with what he posted, I'm sure he would have had a mod delete it by now. It's not for me or you to act self-righteous in telling him how unprofessional he is. Let him deal with the fallout, should there be any.

 

And he will receive a bunch of it, trust me.

You're right, though, self-righteousness is not my strong suit.