Jackson Free Press

Eric Stringfellow, who has worked with The Clarion-Ledger as a writer or editor since 1982, revealed today that the executive editor of the paper, Ronnie Agnew, has dropped his column. In an e-mail to Agnew, pasted verbatim below, Stringfellow accuses Agnew of dropping his column because he revealed that the paper had killed his column about first lady Michelle Obama's visit to Jackson. Agnew's short e-mail dismissing Stringfellow is also pasted below verbatim.

on 3/11/10 4:11 PM, Eric Stringfellow at xxxxxxx wrote:

Ronnie: Congratulations on your exclusive interview with First Lady Michelle Obama. Both the Obama piece that you wrote as well as your column was intriguing.

Your email on Wednesday March 10 was expected but still disappointing. You and Editorial Page Director David Hampton need to explain to your readers and the journalism industry the logic that went into the decision to kill my column about the First Lady's visit to Brinkley Middle School.

During our conversation on Monday evening, you said you hoped that I would continue to write weekly and that you would appear on my TV Show, Direct Line with Eric Stringfellow, in two weeks. You said you didn't mind me sharing with my audience that you refused to publish the column as long as I shaped it "as a private disagreement between us."

I couldn't do that. (TV commentary attached.) My credibility, your credibility as well as The Clarion-Ledger's is at stake. I also had to think of my students. We have to be examples.

On Monday evening, you said you didn't believe the thesis of my column, which was that people in the audience at Brinkley were offended by what appeared to be a blatant breach of protocol. Mayor Harvey Johnson was on stage but wasn't allowed to speak. Superintendent Lonnie Edwards was in the audience as Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and his wife appeared to be in control of the event.

You mentioned that the column contained no quotes and you suspected people like Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. had bent my ear about "petty."

Given the courtesy of a telephone call, all of this could have been addressed. Your response was that it was late, it had been a long week at that on Friday you were anxious to get home to see your son who was home from Ole Miss. You know that this was not a column for Saturday publication. It was set to run on Monday, meaning we have the entire weekend to address. I was stunned when News Editor Ben Kelly, who I called on Sunday night to make sure the updated column didn't have any problems, told me the original column was not on the page.

It is interesting that you would question the validity of this piece in that only through my diligence did you apparently discover its existence. On Friday Gov. Haley Barbour's office directed me to the White House. So did Superintendent Lonnie Edwards' communication office. Josh Sergen, a White House advance press person, referred me to a White House web site. (Questions attached.) Rather than respond to me, they called you and you pulled the column, something that you acknowledged Tuesday evening. Whatever you told them must have satisfied them. They never responded to me.

I was curious that you thanked me for my "contributions as a freelancer over the years." For the record, I started at The Clarion Ledger, my hometown newspaper, in November of 1982. I believe you were still at Ole Miss. I worked county government and City Hall before leaving in 1986 for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. There, I did state court, federal court and projects. I returned to The Clarion-Ledger in 1991 as a night assistant metro editor. I served as political editor and was promoted to public editor in 1997. You promoted me to metro columnist in 2003. Your charge to me was to write strong opinions. I served in that post until 2007 when I chose to leave the paper instead of accept another position after you eliminated the columnist slot.

Your email also speaks to your respect of the "great relationships" that I have built with many of its leaders and you specifically mentioned Mayor Johnson over the telephone. I have known Johnson and his wife for more than 25 years. Some of the most difficult columns that I have written came during his first two administrations. I was tough but I was fair, although he and wife Kathy would probably disagree. I did speak with Johnson but I called him. He was not happy but chose to be gracious. If you watched the show, you should have heard former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, who called the circumstances about Obama "curious."

We also talked about whether you are out of touch with the Jackson community. I believe you are. Your triangle, unless it has changed since 2007, is made up of work, church and home. That is inadequate.

Good luck with the newspaper. Even though I left the newspaper's full-time employee more than three years ago people are convinced that I still work for the paper. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate still does not speak. He is convinced that I am responsible for an editorial that mistakenly called him European instead of African American.

Your email may help.

Please know that I am not going away. Cleveland has tried to rehire me at least three times. I have turned two jobs at the News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C. I also turned down the Houston Chronicle, The Detroit Free Press and the Philadelphia Daily News. Jackson is home. I plan to be here.

Thank you for listening. Both you and David Hampton have an open invitation to appear on Direct Line.
eds

Eric D. Stringfellow
Assistant Professor and Chair
Department of Mass Communication
Tougaloo College
500 W. County Line Road
Jackson, Ms. 39174
(601) 977-xxxx

From: [Agnew's e-mail address]
To: [Stringfellow's e-mail address]
CC: [David Hampton and Don Hudson's e-mail addresses]
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:58:45 -0500
Subject: With appreciation

Eric,
I've made the decision to no longer run your column in The Clarion-Ledger. I thank you for your contribution as a freelancer over the years, and for your community involvement. I respect you for your commitment to Jackson and for the great relationships that you have built with many of its leaders. The newspaper has simply decided to go into another direction. Given this decision, I believe it is best that I decline an appearance on your television show as I had indicated I would fulfill. I wish you nothing but the best, now and in the future. RA

Ronnie Agnew
Executive Editor
201 South Congress St.
Jackson, Miss., 39201
clarionledger.com
601-961-xxxx

______

Here's the spiked column:

Some of the most passionate conversation, at least in my neighborhood, during the last six years or so has been about Gov. Haley Barbour. The best and most frequent have been with a character named Johnny Ralph, an Ole Miss Republican.

I am a Barbour fan, not of his policies but of his talent. How many folks with a Yazoo County drawl can build an international business that sold for zillions?

The governor also reminded us last week that he was one on the nation's most gifted politicians during First Lady Michelle Obama's visit to Jackson.

Barbour is carrying the flag in the GOP's assault on the president's agenda but still managed to do a day-long waltz with the First Lady as the local big shots in the president's where pushed to the back.

Barbour's gifts, perhaps coupled with the White House's political incompetence, made part of Obama's show offensive.

There were six people, for example, on stage at Brinkley Middle School, including Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., the governor, Marsha Barbour, Principal Leroy Pope and the student who introduced the guest of honor.

All but the mayor graced the podium. Johnson was never allowed to publicly welcome the First Lady on her historic visit to his city. That was unbelievable.

Even more inconspicuous was Jackson Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards. His seat was in the gallery and he was practically invisible until being acknowledged by Obama.

By any standard, this was a serious breach of protocol and good manners.

The indignities were not just related to the public show.

There was also what was called a brainstorming session with Obama to talk about strategies to fight obesity, a session moderated by the governor. Among those in attendance was Johnson, Edwards, Dr. Aaron Shirley as well as some folks who probably need GPS to find Brinkley.

Edwards was allowed to share brief opening remarks. Johnson didn't have a "speaking role" but improvised and welcomed the First Lady. He was forced to speak over a White House staffer who was insisting that it was time to go. Interestingly, Greenville Mayor Heather Hudson was at the table and offered remarks.

Then there was the system used to screen the audience, mostly a who's who of Jackson, plus some lawmakers who were Democrats. Even though the event was invitation only, school board members, city councilpersons and state government types spent a couple of hours in line in the cold. Given the historical and cultural significance of the Obama's visit, how could some of the details have been handled so poorly?

Dan Turner, Barbour's spokesman, said the White House scripted the event. Josh Sergen, a White House advance press officials, referred all queries to a White House website. An email sent Friday had not been returned Sunday.

What's clear is that there was no coordination among the Governor's Mansion, City Hall and JPS.

The good news is that the politics didn't register with the students. They gave Obama a rousing welcome. Unfortunately, most of the adults seemed to get it. They left offended about either the governor's insensitivity or the White House's ineptness.

Previous Comments

ID

156707

Comment

The spiked column is now added above. Also, for the record, the mayor's office said before the event that the mayor was invited to participate by the White House and would appear with the first lady. The other statements in the above columns about the mayor's participation have not been confirmed independent of Stringfellow.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-03-11T18:44:11-06:00

ID

156708

Comment

Stringfellow also e-mailed this commentary that he made on his JSU show Tuesday night: And now the Empty Chair. As indicated earlier in the show, the editor of Mississippi’s largest newspaper spiked my column about Michelle Obama’s visit to Jackson. He didn’t believe, he said, that people were upset. The column didn’t have any quotes in it. This, mind you, from a guy who lifted information from my columns without even calling me. Should it matter if you believed my opinion? Are not newspaper supposed to be the biggest protectors of free speech? That’s hard to do if the editor gets in get with the government, like Mr. Agnew did. Was this payback for his exclusive, to make sure everyone in his organization understood the company line? Only Mr. Agnew and the White House can answer. Ronnie claims he will be appear on the show in two weeks to explain his logic. We shall see. For now, he and the White House are in the Empty Chair. And these are the questions Stringfellow says he submitted to the White House: My name is Eric Stringfellow, a contributing columnist with The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi. I am writing a column for Monday Feb. 8, 2010. Who scripted the First Lady’s visit to Jackson? Why was Mayor Harvey Johnson not allowed to speak during the public meeting? Why was Jackson Superintendent Lonnie Edwards not a part of the public program? Why was Haley Barbour so prominent during this visit? Who was the group screening the audience at Brinkley Middle School? Thank you in advance.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-03-11T18:47:12-06:00

ID

156712

Comment

I think I get his point. The one thing that might turn the tide of childhood obesity is more politicians bloviating ad nauseum. Just thinking about it made me lose my appetite. The children might be so afraid they'll have to sit through another half day assembly that they will choose an apple instead of the twinkee as a snack. Besides the lesson in irony in listening to the literally "Fat Cat" political leaders is more important than the other lessons that might have been otherwise planned for that time.

Author

WMartin

Date

2010-03-12T00:17:03-06:00

ID

156722

Comment

clearly, there is something much deeper going on between Agnew and Stringfellow than this spiked column. this seems to be more of the icing than the cake, especially considering that the issue raised in the column really isn't that big. all of this, from the event, to the column, and ultimately the "firing" is about a bunch of adults with egos getting their feelings hurt. cry me a river. note to adults: this visit wasn't for YOU, it was for the KIDS...

Author

eyerah

Date

2010-03-12T11:05:51-06:00

ID

156735

Comment

JFP doesn't seem to like the Clarion-Ledger that much. It seems to be a curse word on here.

Author

DrumminD21311

Date

2010-03-12T20:08:25-06:00

ID

156738

Comment

Jackson is a poor little stepchild with the general government and the state really having a guardianship over it. Its a little like the district of columbia...corrupt to the core and struggling to keep its identity and pride. Identity politics, homelessness, addiction, a small flock of angels and messengers of god holding the whole thing together. The Lord Mayor did get snubbed here but really it has a girl thing between the first ladies.

Author

Aeroscout

Date

2010-03-13T10:48:51-06:00

ID

156746

Comment

Aeroscout, you said, "The Lord Mayor did get snubbed here but really it has a girl thing between the first ladies." What are you talking about? Please explain.

Author

justjess

Date

2010-03-16T10:27:43-06:00

ID

156770

Comment

It was a girl thing between the first ladies refers to the need for the first ladies to inspire better health habits in their husbands, the President and the Governor. The Mayor was not involved in the health initiative. He was on the sidelines when it came to the First Ladies visit because Ms. Obama's purpose was to link up with Ms. Barbour's health theme. It was targeted for kids, but a message was also probably targeted for their husbands, the state and national executives.

Author

Aeroscout

Date

2010-03-16T21:52:46-06:00

ID

156780

Comment

Aeroscout wrote, "....but a message was also probably targeted for their husbands, the state and national executives." Sorry, for me, none of your dots connect.

Author

justjess

Date

2010-03-18T09:10:50-06:00

ID

156793

Comment

@justjess Just watch the video on the JPS Channel of the First Ladies, the two students, the principal of Pecan Park, and the Governor walking on the exercise track. You will see the conversation is mainly between the First Ladies. The health habits of the body politic and the leaders in particular need changing and that was the point of the whole thing as I understand it.

Author

Aeroscout

Date

2010-03-18T13:55:10-06:00