I love that Cindy too. He should be so lucky!

“Media Watch”, the Sequel An Open Letter to Dave Brady From Gregg Lagerquist, News 13 Dear Dave: “…giving out advice about how to stage the news”… That’s an extremely serious allegation to make against someone, Dave. It’s something you accuse me of doing when I volunteered to speak at a forum for public relations professionals you attended with me and about 50 other people the other day. I now realize you don’t need “advice” on how to “stage the news”, Dave. You just gave an outstanding example in your “article” in the Phoenix on January 28th. Believe me, Dave, if your writing was clearly labeled an opinion piece, I wouldn’t be responding. I would celebrate your right to free speech. You could claim that I’m an ugly jerk incapable of stringing a coherent sentence together and unworthy of anyone’s attention or trust. I would strongly disagree. I would hope the vast majority of others who watch me, meet me or know me would strongly disagree as well. In fact, I know they would. Just ask them, Dave. (More on that in a moment…) But if those were your opinions, I would celebrate your right to write and feel whatever you wish, and if you found someone to publish it—well there’s no accounting for taste. But that’s not what you did, Dave. Instead, you wrote what looks disturbingly like a news article and accused me of encouraging deceit and demanding that others pander to my allegedly massive ego and that I professed that I would reward them for such pandering with free news time. I’m surprised you didn’t accuse me of trading news stories for a baloney sandwich and a back rub, Dave. It would have been equally untrue. “We rarely think in advance…” C’mon, Dave! That’s not even a believable fabricated quote! Actually, the interesting thing is you did take some things I said—for example, I did joke that sometimes people say they love watching me with Cindy Williams, which drew a laugh—and then you somehow, for reasons I’m still mystified to understand, ascribed sinister motives to my words… at a breakfast meeting where I was a volunteer! (Was your orange juice over-fermented?!) Speaking of fermentation, what you did reminds me of those beer commercials that sample real outtakes from real football coaches and then splices them in with actors pretending to interview the coaches. Those ads are pretty funny. (Alert: That’s my opinion, Dave, not an objective statement of fact. I know that distinction gives you pangs.) Only trouble here, Dave—while what you wrote is laughable, I don’t think you were trying to be funny. Here’s the deal, Dave. Let me give you some real advice on how to be a journalist. And listen up, Dave, because I think you missed this at some point in your training. As I mentioned—and you know—there were about 50 other people in that room with us. Why don’t you try contacting them, and asking them if they share one scrap of your opinion about what I said and how I said it. What do you think they’ll say, Dave? You quoted Judy Meyer from the Sun Journal, who also participated in the forum. (Amazingly, you did seem to quote her fairly accurately—is it TV you don’t like, Dave?) Ask her to critique your article and let us all know what she said. Better yet, why don’t you try quoting everyone who was there, Dave, and write an article about what they tell you. Not sure how to do that, Dave? I’ll help. The Maine Public Relations Council, I believe, took registration for the event. Ask the organizers for their names. Call them. Ask them. Write that piece, Dave. Good luck Oh, wait. I just remembered. Quoting people is not your strong suit. Well, maybe if you give me a back rub and then massage my apparently oversized ego, I’ll tell you how real journalists do that. Sincerely, Gregg Lagerquist News 13

I don't think Gregg used your name enough. Looks like that's free PR for you right there, Dave!!

Not having been at the event, I realize I can't comment specificially on what statements were made. But I can comment emphatically on the character and integrity of my co-anchor Gregg Lagerquist. I have the utmost respect for Gregg. He is one of the most experienced, articulate, ethical and intelligent journalists I have ever known. I am appalled by Dave's article. For one thing, consider the context of the gathering. The purpose of the panel was to seek advice on how to spark interest in news coverage. The panel invited "insiders" for insight and information, not "guarantees." Gregg, I'm sure, was merely offering suggestions to have a potential story meet the myriad of qualifications for coverage - all of which are decided on a case by case basis. For heaven's sake, Dave, have you WATCHED Gregg Lagerquist? He has earned his stripes with unparalled coverage of Maine news, whether it be politics or investigative pieces, or dramatic weather. And could you honestly not tell when he was displaying a sense of humor, as opposed to suggesting we would never cover a story if another "anchor" is mentioned? I usually let these things lie, because responding can infer "credibility." But I won't let you defame one of the finest reporters in this state, or suggest we take lightly the decisions we make on what to put on the news each night. Kim Block

Were on you at the same event I was, Dave? While I recall Gregg talking about how sometimes knowing an individual can help open a door to a conversation, he never implied or stated outright that knowing someone guarantees coverage of an event. In fact, Gregg made a strong point of saying that simply knowing someone does not guarantee coverage of your event - it has to be newsworthy. Your "article" seriously misrepresented what Gregg said. As you questioned Gregg's ethics in your article, I question yours. Sincerely, Peter DeWitt

"If you have a story to tell, Gregg is counting on you to give him a call" Gregg, thats from your bio on your newspage! Kim, if Gregg did offer suggestions to get a story covered and you covered it, what is the problem? The piece was newsworthy, a charity gets money from a donor. Thats a great thing! I'm perplexed as to why that wouldn't be your point Gregg. To suggest Gregg "advised", "suggested", etc and WGME just happened to cover it-what a joke! The charity got their money, thats the important thing. Gregg, thank the donor for us!

Frankly, this kind of garbage reporting doesn't belong in the Phoenix - or in Maine. Go to Hollywood where you belong and terrorize movie stars. Seems more your speed.

Dear Readers of the Phoenix: My name is Gregg Lagerquist and you may have read an item in last week’s Phoenix accusing me of recently going to a forum for public relations professionals and teaching them how to “stage the news”. This, and the rest of the story, dramatically and willfully misrepresents me and what I said. I asked Jeff Inglis, editor of The Phoenix, for an apology and retraction. He offered me this space instead. First, I agree to speak at such forums frequently, because I believe talking about “the news process” is healthy for everyone. I’ve volunteered for similar forums held by the Maine Association of Nonprofits, the Maine State Police, fire fighters and students, to name a few. Since the Phoenix didn’t bother to mention it, my main message at this forum, and others I’ve attended, is that “honesty works” when dealing with the public and journalists and that I’m always glad to speak to anyone who thinks they have a story idea—whether they’re paid to present it or not—but that never guarantees a story. The Phoenix claims I revealed at the forum that I’d helped a “PR chum” get coverage for donating a big check. Here’s what I actually said at the forum. Judge for yourself… We were asked about examples of “compelling stories” and what encourages news coverage. Off the cuff, I told the group that about eight or nine years ago, some friends of mine founded the non-profit Maine Jazz Festival—a group that donated all its proceeds to charity—and they asked me to join the Board of Advisors. (The festival only lasted a few years, but I believe it did good work while it lasted.) I told the forum that one of these friends—not a “PR chum”, but in fact, a Portland school teacher who also volunteered his time—asked me for advice about how to publicize the fact that the festival had netted $15,000 for the Boys and Girls Club on Cumberland Ave. to buy musical instruments. (Remember, I was an official “Advisor”.) I said, “Ask what’s really important here?” My friend said, “Kids at the Club getting musical instruments.” I said: “Well, then people should see those kids playing music. That’s what people care about.” The point? People care about people, much more than they care about slick PR pitches or (usually) money. This utterance, however, was a big scoop for the Phoenix, which had an intern in the audience. My words turned into me regularly coaching favored PR pros about how to get golden coverage for ostensibly well-paying clients! Some of you may recall, I fully disclosed back at the turn of the millennium that I was on the Board of Advisors of this non-profit, short-lived Jazz Festival that helped the Boys and Girls Club. I hope those kids are still making music, even though the Maine Jazz Festival is not. (Full disclosure: I’m currently on the Board of a nonprofit that helps deaf and hard-of-hearing kids in Maine. I imagine that will be next week’s scoop in the Phoenix.) I strongly believe being a journalist does not remove our rights and responsibilities to be good citizens first—to try to use our talents for the good of our communities, as long as it is not for personal gain and that any potential for conflict, real or perceived, is disclosed. I can only conclude from this experience that the Phoenix does not share these standards. Did the Phoenix simply misunderstand me? I don’t know. They never bothered to call me before or after writing their glowing profile. The saying goes: “Truth hurts.” No—the absence of truth hurts much more. Ironically, I think that’s exactly what I was trying to say in that forum the other day. I hope someone was listening. Finally, I want to say to Dave, the young man who wrote about me and hopes to be a working journalist one day… I’m sorry I was sarcastic to you in my web response in the wee hours after I first read your “article”. I was tired and angry and thought you were already a working journalist who should know better—not an intern and student. I hope you learn from this. Always challenge your sources, your subjects and yourself with equal rigor. You did not do that this time. Hopefully, you will in the future. As for editors of the Phoenix, under the Code of Ethics for the Society of Professional Journalists, the very first instructions are: “Test the accuracy of information from all sources… Deliberate distortion is never permissible. Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing...” None of this was followed. In fact, I believe it was egregiously and deliberately ignored. By the way, you should all know that Jeff Inglis is currently the local chapter president of the SPJ. I demand a recount!—and I’d still like an apology. Thank you. Sincerely, Gregg Lagerquist News 13