Published: May 05, 2005 2:55 PM ET
Syndicate Opts for Substitute Column About 2004 Election Problems
By Dave Astor
NEW YORK Tribune Media Services didn't syndicate today's Robert Koehler column about alleged voting irregularities in the 2004 election, but allowed him to substitute a piece on the same topic.
"At first I was upset, but it wasn't like I couldn't write about this issue," said Koehler, a TMS editor as well as columnist, when reached today by E&P. "I just wish it would get into the mainstream media more. That would help us have secure elections in 2006, 2008, and beyond."
John Twohey, vice president of editorial and operations at TMS, added: "I'm pleased that Bob's columns on this topic are getting so much attention. It's an important issue." In addition to the many e-mails Koehler has received, the situation involving today's column was publicized on BradBlog.com.
Today's piece was Koehler's third about the 2004 election since April 14. Chicago Tribune Public Editor Don Wycliff responded to Koehler's April 14 column in an April 28 piece, which was referred to in the Koehler column that didn't get syndicated.
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Why didn't TMS syndicate this column? Twohey told E&P that the piece wasn't appropriate for national distribution because it referred to a column (Wycliff's) readers outside the Chicago area may not have seen.
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