On Dec 14, 2008, at 4:14 AM, Steve Krivit wrote:
Brian,
A while back Rusi told me this:
We also were told by Brian Wallheimer of the local newspaper Journal & Courier that Rep. Miller's office informed him that their office had negotiated an "exclusive" with NYTimes and could not allow the same privilege for other news reporters.
Can you please confirm or correct the accuracy of Rusi's statement?
Steve
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From: Brian Wallheimer <bwallheimer@journalandcourier.com>
Subject: Re: NYTimes exclusive?
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:37:37 -0500
To: Steve Krivit
X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.753.1)
Steve,
Here's what happened.
I think it had to do with a release that the congressman's office was putting out, one of the documents. I believe it was the letter to Purdue that time. I was told I'd get the document and waited patiently. Then, I was told by someone at the office that they had decided to give it to NYTimes one day before anyone else could have it. I asked why that was. They simply told me they had agreed to do that and give the paper the exclusive. They gave me the document, but embargoed it so I couldn't use it.
To get around the embargo, I asked Purdue if it planned to issue a statement about the document. When that statement went out, I told the congressman's office that Purdue had responded publicly and that I could not honor the embargo because I would be put at an unfair disadvantage not only to the Times, but any other media outlet covering the issue. They agreed that I could use the document. And I beat Kenneth Chang by 14 hours.
I can now say I scooped the NYT. Not too bad for a guy going into PR.
Brian
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