Mark Whicker, what were you thinking?

I'll say this for you, Drip. You do defend your newspaper colleagues.

I don't think Whicker is an asshole. I think this was unfortunate and made more unfortunate by his inability to see the column as inappropriate.

 

JC,

Maybe you're misunderstanding me a bit....I didn't say the POSTERS lose credibility. I said the POSTS lose credibility, and it's whicker's fault because he's giving interviews that clearly shows he doesn't get it.

That Poynter interview was horrific, and if he didn't deserve to be suspended for the column alone, I certainly think he deserves some time off for that interview and those comments.

I hope that makes it a little more clear.

 

Mark is a very proud professional, perhaps to a fault. I think everyone jumping on him has put him in a defensive mode and that's understandable to a degree. He made a big mistake but he's still one of the good guys in this business and there aren't many left.

 

I'm with Ace on this one.

I've known Whicker for 18 years. He's not a friend, but we know eachother quite well. I respect him as a journalist. I really respect him as a columnist.
Believe me when I say this: He's a man who would apologize for brushing into you. So, this is all very strange to me.

 

As I said several pages back, the only way I could have been more surprised by this column if if Poz or Plaschke had written it. Whicker might not quite be at their level, but he's not too far back...

I find it interesting/troubling that he wrote a similar column in 1991, before the days of email, Internet, skeleton crews on the desk, reader comments and blogs.

Also interesting how quickly the ASE was willing to say "I was off that day..."

 

I know his ridiculous "you have left the yard" comment has been brought up on here quite a bit.
And it was incredibly bad. No doubt.

But I think I was outraged more by this one:
"Dugard's stepfather says she's going to need a lot of therapy — you think? — so perhaps she should take a respite before confronting the new realities."

Just the mocking tone of his "you think?" makes my skin crawl for some reason.

Not as much as his subsequent interviews however.

Maybe he is a great guy. And a great columnist. But he certainly hasn't been either this week.

 

Chili, there are 52 weeks in the year. If he has only one bad week, I'd say he's done pretty damn good. He made a mistake. When this blows over, and it will, not many will think twice about it.

 

Whicker could do a lot to help people chill and help this blow over if, you know, he seemed more sincere in his apologies.

 

Inky the best thing for Mark is to just STFU. He might not want to, but it might be best.

 

Don't know if this is a D_B, since I left this thread at the Page 2 point, but . . .

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/column-apologize-readers-2557723-register-most

FWIW, I know Mark on a professional level and have nothing but good things to say about him on that level. And I've always thought of him as one of the most underrated columnists in the country.

 

True.