URGENT: Ned a contact into the Chicago Tribune for breaking story

[Walt Starr]

Folks, I need some media contact information. Please help me out. First stop is theChicago Tribune. I've tried to get through to the National Desk to no avail.

I am breaking my story today. I have all of the evidence I need.

HELP!!! I need somebody to pick this up TODAY!!!!

[chiburb]

1. Walt, maybe I can help...

Eric Zorn and I email back and forth. Perhaps he can pass something along? Up to you...

[Bozita]

4. Zorn is a terrific idea

Love his stuff.

[Walt Starr]

24. Please read your PMs n/t

[chiburb]

28. Please read yours. n/t

[chiburb]

31. PLEASE READ YOURS. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

35. Walt...There Are Other Chicago Contacts, Too

Let me know if you need 'em. Sounds like some fun going on in my backyard. Please keep me posted.

Cheers and best of luck!

[meegbear]

2. Click on the Campaign Underground link above ...

goto your state and goto the media section. It should be there.

[NV1962]

6. I think Walt can find his way to the paper's site by himself...

He's not looking for an e-mail address, but someone with a good relationship with someone within the paper's (senior) editorial staff to provide them with a solid scoop that actually arrives at its destination. Given Walt's outstanding work on exposing Bush's shameless parading with a phony medal, I trust his scoop will be big.

Pity I don't know anyone there - anyone else?

[meegbear]

18. Well La Dee Dah

You'll have to pardon me if I don't know every poster's activities and their scoops. I'll try to be less helpful in the future.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Paradise]

88. Thanks for your help, LDD!

Please don't take anything personally, here. There was a point in time when I felt intimidated to post, sometimes even to reply, and now I just say 'what the hell' and 'send'. Just say 'what the hell' and 'send'! :hi:

[John_H]

63. Reccomendation: First stop should be SAS, Air Force and Army Times.

[Catherine Vincent]

43. That doesn't look like a bear, it looks like a dancing Condom.

LOL!

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Bob Novak?

Just kidding.

[myrna minx]

5. Try this...the DU media blaster. n/t

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cu/cu.php?az=blaster

[tandot]

7. Is that what you are looking for?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/site/chi-email-newstips.customform

Breaking news tips

When you know of breaking news, break it to us

[Rabelais]

8. Why not post it here?

The word could spread faster.

[Walt Starr]

9. I'm posting this afternnoon

Ducks in a row and all that.

Get ready folks, this is big.

[Kukesa]

10. I'm ready, Walt . . . and waiting! n/t

[myrna minx]

14. Thank you so much for all of your work.

:toast: I cannot wait for this to go mainstream. :toast:

[SidDithers]

21. Looking forward to it Walt,

I know now hard you've been working over the last little while.

Sid

[jkbsun]

25. unfair Mr Starr. I was up alll night long reading your posts

then I read about Mari's husband and I still haven't got to sleep was looking to see if the person in houston found out what you needed. now share so I may rest, I am exhausted, the grief from mari's post wore me down. At least tell me if the houston person came through then I can sleep I am 42 too old for sleepless nights

[Carni]

38. Hey what about buzzflash?

In the event you can't get through to the Chicago Tribune at least that would get things circulating on the net.

If it's big I am sure they would run it as a headline.

[Catherine Vincent]

44. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

[imax2268]

46. Awww Man...

another Will Pitt "hold your breath this is big" thing...

can you give us a clue...a little hint...?

[tandot]

12. too many freepers around lately

I'd rather read it printed in the news media accessible to a wider audience

and

welcome to DU, Rabelais :hi:

[rocktivity]

15. Welcome to DU, Rabelais!

Hope you're ready for an intense 68 days--and that you're on our side, LOL!

:hi::hi::hi::hi:
rocknation

[rocktivity]

11. Well, Bush's "medal-gate" is no longer news (thanks to you)

Does this mean you've stumbled across something even JUCIER????

:headbang:
rocknation

[Walt Starr]

13. Call it the nail in the coffin on that story

100% undeniable proof and all that.

[Rosco T.]

16. EEEEEEK! More info! More info! n/m

[Tansy_Gold]

17. Walt, DON'T BREAK IT HERE

Getit to the CAMPAIGN first. Not even the media.

I hope I'm not too late -- stayed up too late, slept in this morning, checked here as soon as I could see.

GET THIS TO THE CAMPAIGN FIRST.

[NV1962]

23. Motion seconded... (n/t)

[Paradise]

89. Thirded! :) n/t

[Renew Deal]

27. I agree. The campaign really knows how/when to break a story.

Don't break it tomorrow or it will go to Saturday's paper.

[jackstraw45]

29. I respectfully disagree...I think the Kerry camp would kill the story...

JMHO.

You need a strong news outlet to break this so that the AP/Reuters will pick it up on the wires.

NOT the Kerry campaign.

The NY Times would be great for a front page story if you knew the right reporter.

[Joanne98]

37. It needs to be released

into the blogosphere to make sure nobody can kill it. Just my humble opinion.

[Ducks In A Row]

58. YeeHaa!!!

go for it.

don't forget Air America! They do news at the top of the hour. It would be sweet for them to break real news.

[0007]

92. Did they finally find James R. Bath?

I hope I hope I hope!

[Joanne98]

54. What do you mean medal-gate is no longer news?

I thought that was what this was about? I'm confused.......

[DeepModem Mom]

20. Try this link to a webpage with Trib contact info --

Sometimes some of the info is outdated, but it's usually correct:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=org_pages&org_id=329

[Claire Beth]

22. WHen it hits the papers....

will you post it here so we'll hear about it for sure??

[Renew Deal]

26. Can you travel to their offices?

Also try calling Newsday in NY. They answer the phone.

[Bozita]

30. WGN has a one hour newscast starting at 1pm EDT

WGN is owned by the Trib and is carried on most cable systems.

[oldtime dfl_er]

32. pm me

I dont have enough posts to send you a private message yet, so maybe you could PM me, I do have an email addie in the Mpls area that might be useful.

[myrna minx]

39. Welcome to DU, fellow DFLer.

:hi:

[oldtime dfl_er]

40. thank you!

I feel like I've come home, being here!

[myrna minx]

48. We have a MInnesota forum for local politics.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=160
Check it out. :hi:

[Chichiri]

66. I know exactly what you mean. (n/t)

:)

[Paradise]

91. that's nice! welcome oldtime! :) n/t

[jackstraw45]

33. Where's the guy here who works at CNN? I won't say his nick for privacy

but perhaps he can contact Walt and get this to someone he knows.

[chiburb]

34. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !!!

The Tribune will be calling Walt (if they haven't already).

[Bozita]

45. Keep us posted

I feel like a little kid waiting to rip open the Christmas presents.

[AmerDem]

59. Nice work chibub!

:toast:

[quaoar]

36. If the Trib doesn't work out

I can send an email to James Carville. I knew him when we both worked in Baton Rouge (before he worked for Clinton).

[jackstraw45]

41. You should ANYWAY....the Tribune could run the story

on page A28 and that would be the end of it.

Getting Carville to mention it on crossfire and getting some of his buddies to call around to news editors is the way news REALLY breaks in this day and age.

EMAIL HIM PLEASE! Help Walt get Carville his evidence.

[Carni]

47. I agree with you

It's harder than hell to get anything out there.

[quaoar]

50. I'd be glad to

But I need something to tell him. How to reach Walt, something about what it is about.

[jackstraw45]

62. From what Walt has said:

He appears to have definitive proof that George W. Bush*, as a member of the national guard, wore ribbons he was not legally authorized to wear.

[Catherine Vincent]

42. You go Walt!

And I'll look forward to your first interview on CNN!!

[molly]

49. I need to leave here at 4:30 to help with a local campaign

PLEASE-PLEASE post it before I leave.....I won't have access to a computer until I get home tonight :cry:

[chiburb]

51. I don't think he'll post it 'till about 6:30 or so...

Just a guess.

[molly]

52. Oh Damn!

I'll check right before I leave and first thing when I get home.

[grasswire]

53. why the Trib, Walt?

Why not Walter Pincus at the Washington Post?

[email protected]

I suggest that you put TIP in the subject line of your email.

[grasswire]

55. don't forget our new stovepipe, the blogs....

...because THEY are the new media.

Send it to Josh Marshall and Atrios and Daily Kos. It will hit MSNBC by tonight if you do that.

[chiburb]

56. The Trib isn't a bad start...

1. Walt's hometown paper.

2. Trib owns LA Times, Newsday, Boston Globe. Pretty wide coverage, especially if an "exclusive".

3. If it's really that juicy a story it'll be picked up by wire services and run in every paper in the country.

Pincus is a great choice too, but the Trib ain't sneeze!

[eek]

65. Buzzflash is based in Chicago.

They were mentioned earlier - they could be helpful, inded.

[Carni]

61. Personally I would put

"PROOF/ Bush wore FALSE MEDALS he did not earn" in the title.

I find that when I put the meat of my tip in the email title they are more likely to open it.

I would also suggest making the correspondance as brief as possible (in case anyone else has to go through this irritating process!)

[Bozita]

68. Didn't an admiral commit suicide over one extra campaign ribbon ...

... on his chest in a photo?

IIRC, it happened 6 or 7 years ago.

[mantis49]

106. Hmph....

we could only hope!

[Jackpine Radical]

113. Does Pincus do anything besides CIA-based stories?

[Ducks In A Row]

57. would contacting amy goodman help?

it would at least get airtime, maybe it would get picked up elsewhere?

[AmerDem]

60. Give them hell Walt!

:yourock:

[eek]

64. If Chicago doesn't bite....

Could any other State work?
I have some contacts elsewhere...

[imax2268]

67. send it to Mike Malloy...!

[grasswire]

69. Walt! check in when you can

I still think we can use the media stovepipe we did last week. Get Daily Kos to put a link to your story. Then MSNBC will see it.

It worked then. It can work again.

[Walt Starr]

70. Folks: Expect a new thread in this forum at 6:30 PM tCentral Time onight

The Tribune won't be running with this tomorrow, so get the word out as you can.

I want to be home when I post this.

[AlCzervik]

71. Why wont they run it?

[imax2268]

72. not even a teaser...?

what's up...what gives...?

[Walt Starr]

73. Look at my thread on the ribbon he did not earn

and think about the last bit required to prove beyond any doubt.

[chopper]

76. so Walt...

you found the dates of all the unit awards, and none of them jibe with Dumbya's service records?

i can't wait to see this story break. you, sir, are a wonderful man.

[datan]

77. Good work

I hope whatever you have stands up.

can you bump the other thread?

thanks
:)

[NV1962]

83. Whoa - found the pertinent AFP 900-2!?

Wonderful - congrats on a great hunting job!!!

:toast:

Yup... It's not 'just' wearing an unauthorized ('phony') medal - it's Bush not reigning in his SBVT maggots who are quesitoning Kerry's medals.

Big, big, big this.

P.S.: for my own cross-reference comfort: 'the' thread is here - see Walt's post #120 and #176 for 'the missing piece.'

[Chichiri]

95. What is the source of that picture?

I think one response of the GOPpers will be to say it's a fake. Where did it come from? Does it exist in meatspace?

[unfrigginreal]

99. Tell 'em to go ask Georgie's daddy...

he's displaying it in his Presidential Library.

http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/photos/gwbphotos.php

[Ducks In A Row]

107. email Chris Mattews and Keith Olbermann

they've been strangely balanced lately.

[Rose Siding]

74. Will they run it later? Are they just checking it?

[Walt Starr]

75. They're checking it

They have another page 1 story for tomorrow.

[Rose Siding]

80. Oh, that's a relief- best luck with it Walt

and thanks. I'll check back, on and off, for any e-mail actions that would help.

[annxburns]

82. Walt, may I say how hard you rock?

You rock hard baby!

[datan]

78. Hi Walt,

can you bump the other thread please?

[Lex]

81. I just bumped the other thread--it is 270 posts long! n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

79. Here's some phone numbers. You may already have them, but....

Chicago Tribune phone numbers
Comments, questions and suggestions about the newspaper are welcome


Main contact numbers
Public Editor (Don Wycliff)
Classified advertising

Display advertising

General questions
[phone]
[phone]

[phone]

[phone]


Home Delivery
Chicago Tribune delivery/newsstand service
Monday-Friday, 5:30 a.m.-7 p.m.;
Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m.;
Sunday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.;
Holidays, 7 a.m.-noon. 1-800-TRIBUNE
(1-800-874-2863)
TDD (Telecommunication device for the hearing impaired) [phone]
Chicago Tribune Company anytime [phone]
To order back copies [phone]
Classroom newspaper delivery
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. [phone]
Classroom newspaper programs
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. [phone]
Chicago Tribune Foundation
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. [phone]

Advertising
Classified advertising
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. [phone] or
[phone]
Display advertising
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. [phone]
Advertising customer service
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. [phone]

Editorial
Public editor (ombudsman) [phone]
Tribune editorial, anytime [phone]
Metro News Editor (Hanke Gratteau) [phone]
Business Editor (Rob Karwath) [phone]
Sports Editor (Dan McGrath) [phone]
Tempo Editor (Tim Bannon) [phone]
Friday Editor (Eric Gwinn) [phone]
Healthy Living (312)-222-5905
Home & Garden (Elaine Matsushita) (312)-222-5970
Good Eating [email protected]
Transportation/Cars (Mary Jane Grandinetti) (312)-222-4247
New Homes (William Sluis) (312)-222-4482

Metro editorial bureaus
Crystal Lake [phone]
Joliet [phone]
Oak Brook [phone]
Tinley Park [phone]
Schaumburg [phone]
Vernon Hills [phone]












CNN
[phone]

ABC News
[phone]

United Press International
[phone]

CBS News
[phone]

FOX News
[phone]

NBC News
[phone]

MSNBC
[phone]

CNBC
[phone]

PBS
[phone]

Washington Post
[phone]

NPR
[phone]

Newsweek
[phone]

LA Times
[phone]

Time
[phone]

New York Times
[phone]

Associated Press
[phone]

USA Today
[phone]

Reuters
[phone]

Wall Street Journal
[phone]


People:

Hillary Clinton
NY office [phone]
WA office [phone]

Bob Dole
WA office [phone]

Nancy Pelosi
CA office [phone]
WA office [phone]

Capital Switch Board
[phone]

BUSH WILL LOSE!!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

84. kick

:kick:

[Joanne98]

85. Link to first thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=654437&mesg_id=654437

[Joanne98]

86. Link to Bush picture

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=printer_friendly&forum=132&topic_id=654437&mesg_id=654437

So it will be nice and handy to print out. hee hee

[snyder]

87. Unit Ribbons Aren't A Big Deal

Walt, you'd better find out if others in Bush's unit wore the ribbon. He could have been ordered to wear it and did so without questioning the order. Unit ribbons aren't taken all that seriously. People get "disgraced" when wearing unearned medals. Those are individual awards, but what you're talking about is a group designation.

Bush could well be technically wrong for having worn it, but if he was one of an entire unit that wore it incorrectly then it's not going to matter.

[unfrigginreal]

90. LOL

The others in the unit aren't running for President for a Party that's questioning Kerry about legitimate medals. Me thinks some freeper heads will be exploding tonight.

[snyder]

96. I Don't Think So

Walt needs to run this by an objective military man. From what I've been told, this is about as significant as making unauthorized copies on the machine in the office. Maybe I'm wrong about that one, but it might be a good idea to run a "cultural check" on this. I really don't think unit ribbons matter very much, and it's easy to imagine that Bush could have been erroneously ordered to wear it.

Don't confuse my comment with support for Bush, o.k.? I'm only saying that any attack ought to be worthwhile and verified from all angles. This one sounds like a technicality to me. I don't think anyone's going to care.

[nostamj]

104. "run this by an objective military man"

you REALLY should have read the original thread.

nice try though!

[yardwork]

114. A technicality that is far more serious than the smears 24/7 about Kerry

Let BushCo refute it if it is false.

[Blue_Roses]

115. why would we confuse your support for Bush?

considering 99.9% of your posts either bash Kerry's "stupidity" or downplay something that is significant to us. No, not confusing your support for Bush at all :eyes:

[Sparkly]

93. Ordered to wear it?

Does that happen? (I don't know, I'm asking.)

I guess if a whole lot of people came forward with pictures of themselves wearing it at the same time, it would show... something.

But even so, their dads weren't Poppy Bush (who should have known better) and they aren't Mr. War President seeking another term. If it's "big" that the puppy Kerry and his crew adopted wasn't mentioned in Navy reports (Washington Times the other day), surely it's bigger that the Chimp in Chief was photographed wearing a medal he didn't earn.

[snyder]

98. Happens Commonly

Remember, it's a unit ribbon, not an individual medal. There is a world's worth of difference between the two. Equating those two things makes the person raising the charge look foolish. This is like busting Julia Child from eating Doritos.

[ezekiel333]

101. In What Branch?

Yes, it is a "only" a unit award. However, ONLY those assigned to the unit during the designated period are allowed to wear it and it is NOT authorized for those who did not serve during that period.

If any member of ANY branch is ordered to wear a date specific awarded medal as common practice I would like some details.

Gunnery Sergeant Cummings/USMC (Retired)

[Tansy_Gold]

108. Just spoke with a friend (yes, it's only hearsay and

anecdotal, which I freely admit.)

Her dad was career Air Force, her husband is Air Force retired also. If he had been at home, I'd have asked him, but he wasn't.

She said that in her experience, it would have been UNTHINKABLE for a unit commander to order unauthorized people to wear a ribbon. It would have been an insult to those who had actually earned it.

"Besides," she said, "it would be against regulations."

So I asked her, "Is the military very strict on regulations?"

Can you guess what her reply was?

:evilgrin:

[ibegurpard]

118. Where has it been established that it was a unit ribbon?

You said IF it's a unit ribbon and now you're saying it IS a unit ribbon.

[girl gone mad]

94. Walt,

if you post it here, we'll do the rest.

[Carla in Ca]

97. Where /when will this story break?

Please advise

[Doohickie]

100. I mentioned this at work....

...and an ex-Air Force guy said he remembered reading the reg concerning wearing unit ribbons on a temporary basis. Like others have said, before you say Bush was not following regs, you had better get a copy of the reg that was being followed at the time the pic was taken.

I still think this is much ado about almost nothing.

[Joanne98]

102. You missed the post that said Prescott Bush got ran out of Ohio for

doing the same thing. It's a family affair. three generations of crime. Makes it more interesting......

[imax2268]

103. oooooooooh...

this should be good...!

[Fleshdancer]

105. It's 6:30pm Central time Walt! Don't keep us waiting!!!!!!

Please spill

[Keirsey]

109. hmmm...

The media doesn't have to say it's fact...yet. They could report that *'s medals are under investigation.

[Keirsey]

110. be sure to get a screen cap of that page

We don't want the evidence to disappear.

[Walt Starr]

111. The Story is in this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x675299

[LimpDickCheney]

112. I would have waited till after the convention

[ibegurpard]

116. Have you considered Roger Ebert or Richard Roeper?

Both of them have written columns critical of Bush. I know their main realm is entertainment but, particularly with Ebert, they've been at their respective papers for a while and might pull some weight.

[wicket]

117. This is a REALLY good idea

Ebert especially.