Open Book Club closed

Published Jun 05 2009, 06:34 PM by Adam Reilly

About a year ago, I argued that New England Cable News should pull Open Book Club--the vanity project featuring Debbie DiMasi, wife of then-MA House speaker Sal--off the air, due to the problematic entaglements the show created between the station, the DiMasis, and the Cashmans (i.e., bigshot developer Jay and his wife Christy). The problem was threefold: actions taken by Sal DiMasi had financially benefitted Jay Cashman; a production company run by Christy Scott Cashman was paying NECN to broadcast Open Book Club; and no one knewhow much money--if any--Debbie DiMasi was getting, courtesy of the Cashmans, for her involvement with the program.

The show stayed on the air. But now, in the wake of last week's indictment of Sal DiMasi--which, it bears noting, doesn't involve Cashman--it's putting the kabosh on the program indefinitely. NECN president/GM Charlie Kravetz issued the following statement today.

NECN is aggressively covering the government's case against former Massachusetts House Speaker Sal DiMasi. In order to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest, NECN has decided to suspend indefinitely the airing of The Open Book Club through which it has a business relationship with Christy Cashman and Deborah DiMasi.

The right move, I think.

Today's Globe stumper

NYT Co: Globe could still close

4 Comments

Book said:

I am regret.

June 7, 2009 8:39 AM
Peter Procupine said:

'The right move'? It now takes an INDICTMENT to prompt a recognition of conflict of interrest?

June 8, 2009 10:54 AM
Adam Reilly said:

PP: Like you, I thought there was a conflict long before the indictment--but they didn't take my advice a year ago. When I say this is the "right move," I mean in a better-late-than-never sense.

June 8, 2009 11:10 AM
aging cynic said:

AR: check out the pilot on the website, Sal with Steve Sweeney, Ray Bourke and the ladies, discussing situation ethics with Andre Dubus. Priceless.

June 9, 2009 6:26 PM

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Open Book Club closed

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