Mary Therese Biebel writes today about longtime former columnist Steve Corbett, who has been back in town for months but was only recently discovered by the TL. Be sure to enjoy the audio clips of Corbett holding forth. Corbett will be on WILK as a fill-in host, but the glowing TL story -- which ignores his sudden departure in 2002 -- begs the question of whether Corbett will be returning to the TL.
Corbett says he will focus on all aspects of radio at Entercom and will not be returning to the Times Leader.
ReplyDeleteAnd he moved back the week before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWho gives a flying fuck???
ReplyDeleteWe all do. Like it or not, he is the most recognized person in all of local media. He will do well on radio. And he left Santa Maria because Pulitzer got bought and Mark Contreras left Pulitzer for Scripps. He went to CA because of Mark.
ReplyDeleteacutally he went to California to get away from McHugh. Contreras gave him the opportunity to get out.
ReplyDeleteEVERYONE wanted to get out because of McHugh (well except for Kahlau).
ReplyDelete"he is the most recognized person in all of local media"
ReplyDeleteI can think of a couple broadcast types who are far more recognizable, and they are so from Williamsport to Pottsville to Honesdale, not just on Public Square.
honesdale?
ReplyDeletedude, get serious.
where's he going after he shaves?
ReplyDeleteHe's looking a little long in the tooth.
ReplyDeleteIsn't he the guy who lied to pretend he was George Bank's shrink, so he could have his psych records for the TL?
ReplyDeleteAnd was he the guy who recorded Glen Wolseiffer's phone conversation with him, without telling Glen what he was doing?
If Steve is going into talk radio, he may be the only person who can make the Big Vopper look less like a gutter dweller. Freddie is a hard act to follow, but he's got competition here.
Corbett's Wolseiffer's stuff was great and who cares if he recoreded a murderer without his consent.
ReplyDeleteWho cares if a journalist breaks the law? I do! All journalists should care.
ReplyDeletePretentious, pompous, poseur. He tricked some people here once before into thinking he was something he was not, namely important. His association with WILK will ultimately find him crashing and burning faster than Kevin Lynn's slow fall from grace is taking. Take one look at this guy and just imagine what's in his closet.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame none of the local papers can find a spot for Corbett, even once a week. He's just an old-school guy who believes in getting out of the office, talking to real people and writing from the heart and the gut. We need his kind in NEPA, now more than ever.
ReplyDeletebarf
ReplyDeletehonesdale?
ReplyDeletedude, get serious.
Wayne County, one of the fastest growing counties in PA. Get serious? Let me guess; you think the world ends at Avoca, right? Myopic, parochial, but most of all, typical.
Is it my imagination, or did the arrogant, supercilious, know-it-all insider musings of John Mitchell start up around the time that Corbett was reported back in town?
ReplyDeleteProbably just a coincidence....not.
after his arrest in the wolsieffer taping controversy, corbett and his three co-defendants received one of journalism's most prestigous national awards: the scripps foundation service to the first amendment award.
ReplyDeleteWonder which category?
ReplyDelete(a) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Maybe he's active in church stuff; you never know. Several media people around here are.
(b) or abridging the freedom of speech.
Even an abridged dictionary has all the words you will ever need, but that's beside the point.
(c) or of the press.
Didn't the TL abridge or unabridge his freedom there?
(d) or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.
When he's around, people assemble, all right, but sometimes it's not peaceably.
(e) and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
But what if your actions are the cause of grievances and they are mutually exclusive of First Amendment honors?
It's one thing to be an activist, or an investigative reporter ... but I was always taught to be open about it. Identify yourself and your association.
Love him or Hate him, people know Steve and his work. I wonder where he will land on WILK?
ReplyDeletecorbett wasn't even at the times leader when the banks story broke. he never misrepresented himself in the banks case and to say so is a clear case of malice and libel. priest and king's communication/speech professor carten should know better than to make such a damaging allegation without corroboration. wolsieffer knew who he was talking to during his interview with corbett because the times leader published a transcript of the entire conversation. corbett and times leader lawyer richard sprague (one of the best attorneys in the nation) maintain that the taped interview was absolutely legal.
ReplyDelete4:13 -- corbett wasn't even at the times leader when the banks story broke. he never misrepresented himself in the banks case and to say so is a clear case of malice and libel. priest and king's communication/speech professor carten should know better than to make such a damaging allegation without corroboration.
ReplyDeleteAh, the luxury of being anonymous. You can be so out of the ballpark and get away with it.
I never said SC was here when the case broke. I said he misrep'd himself to get the psych reports. I think that is a matter of record and a pretty big scandal at the time.
wolsieffer knew who he was talking to during his interview with corbett because the times leader published a transcript of the entire conversation.
Sure, he knew; he just didn't know it was being recorded. Legal? Well yeah, in the State of Virginia you can record without informing. Ethical? No, not according to generally-accepted journalistic standards.
times leader lawyer richard sprague (one of the best attorneys in the nation) maintain that the taped interview was absolutely legal.
Read what I said about ethics and standards, above.
By the way, Steve, welcome back to the area. Hope to see you more often here. And cut out the attempts at guilt-producing "priest" crap, ok? I'm here as a long-time journalist and broadcaster. You want priest, show up at the parish where I work. :)
so show us the journalistic documentation, tom.
ReplyDeleteYou think I can keep all those back issues in my 2-and-a-bath? Come onnnnn, folks.
ReplyDelete4:13 already confirmed the phone call I was talking about, so we can put that one aside.
The Banks psych file release was in the TL, IIRC, front page. I'm sure they have that proud memory in their morgue. I think Banks was in the county lockup at the time; wherever he was, that's how his records got above the fold.
Now leave me alone for a while; I'm watching "Titanic" on all the networks. The Democrats will have their commentary right afterwards.
Geez, he looks like Rip Van Winkle
ReplyDeleteI would advise all of you to simply ignore Carten's comments. He's nowhere near as intelligent or sharp on his memory as he sounds. He, again, is way off the mark on the Corbett stuff.
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDelete(Puts thumbs in ears, waggles fingers.)
pffffffft.
He's nowhere near as intelligent or sharp on his memory as he sounds.
Eh? Eh? Is that my turn signal still on? Why, I remember when...
you're wrong about the banks accusation, tom, and owe corbett an apology. in the real world of journalism, such defamation gets reporters sued.
ReplyDeleteI owe Corbett an apology? Hey, that's like sptting into a hurricane. Paying back a dollar to someone who owes ten thousand.
ReplyDeleteOk, I know I'm right but, Stevie, sorry if I'm wrong, which I don't think I am. If I get the time, I'll see if the CV morgue has any clips on it, and then look thru the microfiche and see if I can find the original TL story. If I'm right, I'll replace You Know Who in the grotto up here with you know who.
If I'm wrong, I don't know; maybe the apology above is enough. Yeah, it is. I distinctly remember the photocopy on the front page of the Other Paper.
(smacks lips)
See what I mean.......
ReplyDeleteI thought you were going to ignore my comments. Sheesh; a guy can't have any fun. Heck's bells, this is only a bar room where we sit around and have friendly fights over a brew or two. When the joint closes, we wish each other good night, go home and meet the next night to see what the topic is.
ReplyDeleteGet another beer on me, pull up a chair and have some fun. Life's too short.
is carten a better priest than he is a journalist?
ReplyDeleteGee, I dunno. People in the arts community thought I was a good arts critic when I did it at the CV. I've been doing the Wax Museum (old music) since '81 and it's a popular column. Did a lot of other stuff, freelance, for other publications. I do a daily blog that gets good reviews.
ReplyDeleteAs to the priest stuff, I think I do alright. I mean, I'm not one of the Bright Lights headed for Big Things, but people trust me for good advice when they have troubles. I work in two parishes on Sundays and nobody's tossed any vegetables, ripe or overripe.
I really don't think the two can be compared. Let's just say that people like both sides of me.
Oh, and I was a good disc jockey in my earlier years, too.
"Get another beer on me, pull up a chair and have some fun. Life's too short. "
ReplyDeleteWrongly accusing someone (Corbett, in this case) of committing a crime or being severely unethical is fun, Carten?
Wronging accusing: Not fun.
ReplyDeleteRightly accusing: Fun.
Eventually digging up the evidence: Priceless.
i've been in the news business in NEPA for 22 years and never heard of Carten. Let's drop this. It's boring.
ReplyDeleteso dig up the evidence, tom.
ReplyDeleteCarten is a typical old school CV hack: full of inferiority and jealous because all other media outlets/reporters are much better than they.
ReplyDeleteCVers, over the years, have repeatedly made up lies about Corbett and the TL. It has stopped of late, that is except for Carten. His jealousy rages on.
i've been in the news business in NEPA for 22 years and never heard of Carten.
ReplyDeleteMe? 27 years here for a total of 49 years lifetime.
Let's drop this. It's boring.
Fine with me.
so dig up the evidence, tom. I've started on it; cool your jets. There are other things in my life than just message boards. One thing at a time.
Carten is a typical old school CV hack: full of inferiority and jealous because all other media outlets/reporters are much better than they.
Wow! Best one I've heard yet! "Old school CV hack"; too bad my Mom's not still with us, as she'd get a big laugh out of that one.
CVers, over the years, have repeatedly made up lies about Corbett and the TL. It has stopped of late, that is except for Carten. His jealousy rages on.
Rage? I think this whole thread is pretty funny. I'm having a great time with it and am jealous over nothing at the TL and/or Steverino, much less finding either one worth rage.
It's great sitting here watching all these emotions rise to the top as I write a little jab here, a little smiley icon there.
You gotta admit, at least one of us is having fun here. I was sorta hoping most of us would be. It's a great topic, this Steve C, and worth bouncing around here. Just not worth everyone being so [bleep] serious and angry.
"There are other things in my life than just message boards."
ReplyDeleteBased on the amount of posts, I'm gonna say there's not much else going on in the life.
I'm doing stuff that involves my computer more than usual, so I can keep the board up while I work. That's normally not the case. Tomorrow (Thursday) is another matter, so you can (a) let this thread die or (b) post merrily away, because I won't be around much at all.
ReplyDeleteAre. Aren't.
ReplyDeleteDid too. Did not.
Oh, yeah? Yeah.
We'll just see about that. Damn right we will.
Oh, yeah? Yeah.
Keep going, guys. It's a bit repetitive, and you both come across as assholes, but it's slightly amusing.
It is? Is not.
Oh, yeah? Yeah.
So this is how the media in NEPA respond to each other. I expected a more rational and reasoned thread. Seems as though this Carten guy is the only one with the courage to use his name. Ramp it up guys. Its starting to sound like high school.
ReplyDeletePlease, walsh.
ReplyDeleteOpps! Sorry Mike Sorry John. Old eyes short attention span. Here take my lunch money.
ReplyDeleteHi, I like Corbett, but this is incredibly freakin' dull.
ReplyDeleteI didn't agree with a lot of what Corbett wrote or how he conducted himself, but he added a little spice to a very boring newspaper and local media scene.
ReplyDeleteSpice or stench?
ReplyDeleteI'm still waiting for the correction or Carten's allegedly published evidence that Corbett misrepresented himself, posed as a shrink and tried to get medical records for mass murderer George Banks.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. Where's it at, Carten?
ReplyDeletethe best way out of a mistake is to own up to it.
ReplyDeleteAnd the best way to show it's not a mistake is to show you're right.
ReplyDeleteI'm still digging, trying to get info from first sources. I really think I'm right and willing to keep asking people who might have the memory, or can steer me in the right direction. This afternoon, I did just that, but hit a couple of dead ends.
Onward and upward!
State of the Search:
ReplyDeleteI have one source in the County Justice System who is pretty sure it was Steve, but does not want to make a definitive statement as he is not 100% on it.
I have another source in the news business who, at first, did not know, then after we talked a while, said he thought it might have been a reporter named Dave Drury.
Two other people in the justice system did not know; four other reporters did not know.
I think I know about when the incident occured, given what I was able to find out from the people I spoke with. Maybe I can dig up more and settle it.
Scoreboard at the end of this inning:
Corbett 1
Drury 1
Carten ?
The game will continue right after these messages from your sponsors.
by dragging drury into this you've now absolutely libeled at least one person. you're making a complete ass out of yourself. this is not funny, tom.
ReplyDeleteOh, come on. I'm telling you the results of my search. Libel is deliberate; this is research and what I can find out by asking around.
ReplyDeleteI'm not dragging anyone in; I'm not making an ass, complete or incomplete, out of myself; nor do I think it's a matter of humor. I've been asked to prove my suspicions and this is what I have come up with. My contact said Dave was here, he was covering the story and my contact had reason to believe he might have been the person.
So I pass it along hoping to shake a few memories loose. Saying I've "absolutely libeled at least one person" just isn't there; anyone in journalism knows that. The fact that I'm digging is far from making a complete ass out of myself; researching is better than just tossing in an opinion without trying to tie it down.
Good thing you don't work for a daily, Carten. We'd learn about January's news in February.
ReplyDelete10:53 --- Good thing you don't work for a daily.
ReplyDeleteActually, I do work for a daily, but luckily it's just a weekly column ... about the history of music. Long lead time.
What I've fallen into here is more like writing a book, given the research I'm doing --outside of my Day Job-- so time isn't a big deal.
Anyway...
Same frustrating results, including a call from a former D.A. who wakes up earlier than I do. (grrrrrrr)
One good source says: "I'm pretty sure it's X, but I can't say it 100%."
One excellent, perhaps superb, source says: "It's Y (gives reason), definitely, no doubt about it."
I approach Y, who ducks the question artfully and refers me to Z. Unfortunately, Z is not able to be of assistance.
10:53 tortured me with: Good thing you don't work for a daily, Carten. We'd learn about January's news in February.
Ah, but it would be well-researched and there wouldn't be a "corrections" page. People who passed away would still be dead; buildings that burned down would still be in ashes; Mark Cour would still be dumping on Walter Griffith; and the galaxy would still be turning at the rate of one revolution every 248 million years.
You would think SOME of these guys crying for "evidence" would at least be able to provide documentation to support their assertions. How about it? Can we see some or is Carten gonna have to carry the weight alone? It might end this game once and for all. I'm sure Corbett has a scapbook someone can scan. I don't know anyone who gets published that doesn't keep a file.
ReplyDeleteWhy not surprise everybody and do a little reporting? Why not call Corbett and ask? He's in the book, he writes a WILK blog and has a WILK e-mail address. I'll bet that Corbett will even speak on the record.
ReplyDeleteI've gone to six reporters (including an ex-TL), two people in the prison system, two in the judicial system and possibly others.
ReplyDeleteThe TL won't let me in the front door, Richard Connor tried to get me fired from King's the last time he was here because I use a pen name at the CV (to distance the college and my compatriots from the then-hot strike). I don't feel like going thru approx two years of microfilm. The person we (a CV reporter who was there at the time) think it might be will not answer any questions about it -- just dodges them.
I'm out of leads ... for the moment.
For all I know, it may have been some old lady in the Altar and Rosary Society at the local church.
...now there's an idea. Maybe the Bishop can help me.
like i said, call corbett. he's not dodging any questions. call him and ask. otherwise, zip it. you're embarrassing yourself, the cloth and your school.
ReplyDeleteYeah, ya really think any reporter is going to admit to the shenanigans mentioned here? Cyberspace lives forever on somebody's hard drive. If we had the internet developed back during the Bank's trial this would have been settled a long time ago. Once again I must point out everyone appears to be content to let Carten do the leg work while shooting arrows. Whatever happened to the collective effort to uncover the truth? Its like high school: trip the guy on the way to the board then mock his clothing or beliefs. All so transparent. Makes me wonder.
ReplyDeleteyou're embarrassing the cloth
ReplyDeleteHow many times I gotta tell you guys I'm here in my first, and longest, profession: reporter. The other thing? Call for my schedule.
call corbett. he's not dodging any questions.
Real perps deny it; non-perps deny it. Bottom line: no confirmation from those you ask. You know the scene: reporters following the suspect, "Did you shoot the bank teller?" Like they're going to tell you. You have to do your own digging and I'm at a dead end.
So we move on.
no we don't. you accused the guy of committing a crime. you defamed him publicly and take credit for doing so. your accusation is wrong. victims of the press don't have to defend smears against them. the accuser does. that's the journalism rule. that's the law. thank god you're not teaching journalism anymore.
ReplyDelete"your accusation is wrong."
ReplyDeleteCan YOU prove it wrong? Come on, I wanna see something substantial. Is anybody's memory to be trusted without documentation? Sorry originally this thread jogged my memory and I must admit to thinking exactly what Carten thought. Somebody somewhere should have the info available. How come you big-shot reporters don't come through. Are you closing ranks or just don't consider it worthy?
"victims of the press don't have to defend smears against them."
Oh really? You must mean reporters.
"thank god you're not teaching journalism anymore."
I say his attempts at finding "evidence" overwhelm these type of snide remark.
Guess its time to say "whatever", move on, and hope something bobs to the surface when we're not looking.
At least four of George Banks' longtime attorneys work in Wilkes-Barre. They know Corbett for many years and all got along with him despite some of the differences you would expect between lawyers and a well-known news columnist. They can tell you than he never did what Carten accuses him of doing. Carten should call and ask. I'll even identify them if newsman Carten doesn't know who they are. Accuracy and fairness still matter.
ReplyDeleteLet see: 67 posts before a clue is offered? Where were you 66 posts ago? I smell a herring. I hope I'm wrong.
ReplyDeletewhy have all the posts that previously used tom carten's name now been changed to anonymous?
ReplyDeleteNow Carten's name is back on some of his posts and I'm getting dizzy.
ReplyDeleteLet's put an end to this matter so we can move on. Call Banks' lawyers, Carten. Do the legwork. Be a reporter. Then tell your readers how you made out. No hard feelings, Father. OK?
Geez here we go again. Must be too much for some of you jokers to actually read the previous posts and get a feel for the thread. Or your short term memory is worse than mine. It speaks volumes that you're too lazy to catch up and want Carten to waste time banging head on the stonewall. Know the lawyer? Have the lawyers post the truth! First person, Jimmy Olsen, first person.
ReplyDeleteCorbett says the Banks accusation is false. He says he has never misrepresented himself or broken the law while doing journalism. He says he has no idea where this rumor originated and that these allegations have never been published anywhere other than on this link.
ReplyDeletecorbett's right.
ReplyDeletePROVE IT. Find the print, audio, video already and put this to rest.
ReplyDeleteNo print, audio or video exists. That's the whole point. That's why Corbett's right.
ReplyDeleteFinally, an accurate end to a false story. Banks' lead lawyer Al Flora could have told you that months ago. He and Corbett got along well enough to talk over a few beers at Murrays happy hour before Corbett went to California.
ReplyDelete