Richmond Times Disgrace

On Sunday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch published a "guest commentary" by retired Admiral Roy Hoffmann, a founder of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The RTD published this screed prominently on the front page of it's Sunday Commentary section. The commentary was full of charges that have already been discredited by so many other, more trustworthy people than Hoffmann it's not even funny.

I wrote the Times-Dispatch ombudsman, asking him exactly what the RTD's policies were regarding the vetting of commentaries. He responded with the following:

Editorial operates independently of the News Department and, given that it dispenses opinion,is outside my purview as ombudsman for the news content.

He said he'd forward my message on to the editorial director.

So I decided to write the editorial director demanding a retraction of the Hoffmann commentary and an apology by the paper. I'll update if there's anything on that front.

Interestingly, Media Matters for America also noticed the Hoffmann commentary, and has sent a letter to all editorial directors asking them not to repeat the RTD disgrace.