TIMES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RESPONDS: "It's a matter of interpretation"

EDITORIAL COMMENT
T. J. Norton
Editorial Partner


Before the official follow-up to our recent article, we can confirm we have received an official response from Titulia Times editor-in-chief MC Daddy D.

At 10:35 pm AEST on Saturday night I received an abusive Skype call from MC Daddy D in which he referred to me as a "mother[expletive]" for reporting on the story.

MC Daddy D confirmed the allegation of threatening to withdraw from business from Manhattan LLP lawyers if the Titulia Ice Hockey League (TIHL) refused to sever 'business ties' with the Titulia Herald.

In his defense, MC Daddy D argued it was a 'breach of ethics' for TIHL CEO Steven Leggett to conduct business with the Herald as he [Leggett] is the Times' lawyer. When I asked MC Daddy D to provide evidence of the existence of a contract that stated the TIHL was prohibited from conducting non-legal related business with another media company, Daddy D did not confirm the existence of any document preventing the TIHL conducting business with a media outlet and that it was a 'matter of interpretation'.

When asked if he [MC Daddy D] attempted to apply pressure to Mr Leggett's TIHL business decisions by implying he go over his head to Manhattan LLP founder Drmanhaton (now Chief Justice), MC Daddy D again referred to it as a 'business decision'.

If DD had of left it at that (minus the abuse) his reasons would have seemed valid, albeit concerns of the Times' continuing a domineering attitude of their share in the Titulia media market - which is currently holding.


But then the conversation took a sudden shift to one of legality. When DD mentioned the words 'code of ethics' - it got my attention. "It is unethical for your lawyer to do business with your competitor", MC Daddy D said during the phone conversation.

Last time I checked - TMG, the Herald, nor any of our media outlets were represented by Manhattan LLP Lawyers.

When I asked MC Daddy D if he was claiming Mr Leggett shared privileged legal advice given to the Herald about Times' business interests he responded ".. well how do I know that?"

When asked to clarify any reason he [DD] had that there was professional wrongdoing on the part of Mr Leggett, the TIHL, the Herald - Daddy D immediately changed the course of the discussion and protested that he had been treated unfairly.

MC Daddy D - despite not being able to argue one single fact in the Herald's report - offered continued abuse and 'interpretation' as his excuse.


Based on the Leggett e-mail there is no inaccuracy between Erina and Bailey's report or MC Daddy D's responses - including that based on what we have seen there has been no legal wrongdoing on the part of the Times. However it is clear now that the harsh discourse from the Times is indicative of failing to achieve any sense of co-operation from our competitor.

Failing to provide any legal or documentary argument to the Herald's claims, MC Daddy D then persisted in continuing a tirade of verbal attacks and after several times of being asked to behave cordially during the conversation, the call was ended in failing to achieve any degree of maturity from the media chief to ascertain any argument.

As for MC Daddy D's comment directed at me, ".. it's not that I don't respect you .. it's that I don't like you very much".

Considering that this is the most excessive attempt of intimidation I have seen in Titulia since my citizenship began and with none of the facts in the story challenged, editor to editor I only have one thing to say to such childish behaviour from someone who claims to be a grown man -

- right back at ya buddy!

Stay watching this space right here at the Titulia Herald as this story develops. We will stay on every accusation made by the Times with a fine-tooth comb.