April 23, 2007
Should Adam Dread pick his battles?
Do you know the old saying that “Never start a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel?” At-large Metro Council member Adam Dread may or may not know (or care about the consequences of) this time-honored journalistic maxim, but he (and the rest of us who read the City Paper) are seeing its results this morning:
Dread expressed his anger over the piece at length in a series of e-mails to City Paper managers. In at least two exchanges over Monday and Tuesday of last week, Dread mentioned the anti-news rack ordinance the Council was set to vote on Tuesday night where Metro government would permit and tax all newspaper racks in the city.
“That being said, good luck on your news racks (expletive),” Dread wrote in one exchange with City Paper Executive Editor Clint Brewer over the column. “The last ones I saw were in complete disrepair. Just kidding. Sort of.”
The second comment on the news racks came when Dread was contacted via e-mail by City Paper Publisher Albie Del Favero on Tuesday as Del Favero was making a last minute effort to stem the tide of the Council vote against the city’s newspapers.
“Albie- If this didn’t run…I ain’t voting for it!,” Dread wrote at the head of an e-mail to Brewer he forwarded Del Favero demanding corrections in the original Dread/Spoon concert item.
[Note: Dread did in fact vote for this bill and, consequently, against the City Paper's position.]
The New York Times asserts that the Internet is giving the public the opportunity to reject the “ink by the barrel” philosophy. I agree that the Internet is changing how journalists interact with the public (and vice versa), and I’ve seen what Katherine Coble and an army of angry bloggers can do. I still think the “ink by the barrel” wisdom applies, though, especially when you are working with (or in this case against) reporters on the local level, and when you want to have productive and professional ongoing relationships with them.
Has Dread done anything here other than make more people aware of his behavior and implied what appears to be a pretty unethical tie between his vote on the newsrack bill and the paper’s consideration of his side of the story? I personally don’t think so.
![Rob Robinson](http://thinktrain.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/Rob.jpg")
Nashville is Talking » They Wiggle, They Wobble said,
April 23, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
[...] Should Adam Dread pick his battles? [...]
Adam Dread said,
April 24, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Rob-
“Retaliation” is an overstatement. What you read were hand picked and edited exerpts of emails between myself and the editor of the City Paper (and a friend of mine) Clint Brewer. My vote had nothing to do with his attack, however, his timing appeared to be a bit ironic, which I did comment on. The bill itself is Constitutional, as the founding fathers never intended that the First Amendment cover advertising for free on the pubic right of way (Auto Trader, etc..) That’s not “news”, it’s advertising, not unlike a billboard, and generally, in the way of the Public.
If you care to hear what he left out, and the reason I was unhappy with his paper’s uncalled for initial attack (and conveniently edited follow-up), I would be happy to discuss them with you. You can reach me at my office at 252-9937. I have never been afraid to take on people who “buy their ink by the barrel” , and, when attacked or misquoted, will respond directly.
Adam Dread
Rob Robinson said,
April 24, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Adam, thanks for reading and for commenting. Who said “retaliation?” I couldn’t find that word in my post or the original CP story. Just curious.
My vote had nothing to do with his attack, however, his timing appeared to be a bit ironic, which I did comment on.
I don’t believe that you actually tied your vote to the CP’s response, but for anyone who does not know you, your comments to the paper imply the possibility. I personally think that implication, unfounded as it is, was unwise.
What you read were hand picked and edited exerpts of emails between myself and the editor of the City Paper (and a friend of mine) Clint Brewer.
I have no doubt that the CP pulled the most interesting and, perhaps, the most inflammatory remarks from your messages. I think that’s why the “ink by the barrel” maxim has become conventional wisdom. It’s often true.
I respect your interest in responding to any media coverage, especially coverage you consider inaccurate. Beyond correcting any misreported facts, though, I’m not sure what it accomplishes, especially if the responder goes on the offensive. In this particular case, I think it wound up creating another story similar to the one you did not want to see in the first place.
Rob Robinson said,
April 24, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Ah, I see know that ACK used “retaliation” in his link to my post. I didn’t use that word, but without seeing the full email, it’s hard for me to know whether it is an overstatement or not. Adam, why not clear the air and post your full emails and replies here (omitting any private details you deem necessary, of course)?
Adam Dread said,
April 25, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
Rob-
I’m not a “blogger” per se (not enough time in the day) but thanks for giving me the opportunity to clear up what I consider an uncalled for attack on me, followed by a ridiculous “false-light” accustaion, when I responded to the first attack. Yes, they may buy “ink by the barrel”, but I don’t take much sitting down, and will jump into battle if I think I am being unjustly slighted.
The first “Rex in the City” called me, to paraphrase, an “univited person on stage.” I was in fact, there at the request of the spponsor, Jack Daniels, and have probably hosted a dozen events for them since the late 90’s, including several in Lynchburg, and one in DC. They are very generous to a lot of charities I volunteer for, so when they ask me for a favor, I do it.
2. The “Anoerexia” joke I told at the begining was just to get the crowd’s attention, and they misquoted it. The joke, which I have used for years, is self-depricating, and say’s “I’ve been beating anorexia for years.” IT’s a visual audience grabber, as I weigh over 240.
3. Bashing me for calling Wax Fand “the greatest band in the Universe” was the intro they wrote, not me. (again, an emcees job.) I was probably on stage for less than 2 minutes, again, to get the crowd to look at the stage, thank the sponsor, and get going.
4. Ironically, the first attack showed “Rex” not be the “saavy political insider” “he” is portrayed to be. Using the phrase “much anticipated Spoon show” doesn’t sound like it came out of a FOX News commentator. The “free” concert had lots of young folks, there to hear some good bands. The fact that I intro-ed the band shouldn’t have been front page news. Period.
Upon reading this attack, I had a flurry of back-n-forth emails with my friend Clint Brewer, the editor. He admitted error and promised a retration of sorts for Tuesday. That didn’t happen. The damage had already been done. Both my wife and I were worn out with calls and comments about some BS reporting. The retraction didn’t run the next day as promised, but Wednesday. Yes, I commented on his timing in bashing me in one sentence, and in the next one, asking me to vote a particular way. That is ironic no matter what the issue.
The news rack bill won by a supermajority, I believe 28-23. There is no First Amendment issue in this bill. It concerns advertising, and clutter. The residents of certain areas are sick and tired of having their right-of-ways blocked by “Apartment Finder” and “Auto Trader.” Supposably, the Tennessean and Scene were to “fix” the problem years ago, promised the city they would, but never did. Did I comment to Clint in a private email about this? Hell yes! Did I vote out of retaliation? Absolutely not. Again, feel free to call me with any questions at my office at 252-9937. Thanks
Adam Dread
PS-You requested a copy of an email from the City Paper to me, when I requested a correction Below is an edited one, from the editor, complete with his little “Smiley face logo thing ” at the bottom. Feel free to run it.
From: CBrewer@nashvillecitypaper.com [mailto:CBrewer@nashvillecitypaper.com]
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 10:04 PM
To: Adam Dread
Subject: RE: PS on Dread attack-Corrections please.
Adam,
You are a pain in the ass, which I am sure is your intent.You give all your actual news to The Scene.How about this A-Dread quote for Rex next week: “That being said good luck on your news racks, fucker. The last ones I saw were in complete disrepair.? Just kidding?sort of.”
thinktrain » Pixels are cheaper than paper said,
April 25, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
[...] Dread has shared more thoughts on my post from earlier this week. Here’s a quote, and the rest is in the comment on the original post: [...]