New York Congressman Michael Grimm last week provided the kind of material that makes print and broadcast staffers lick their chops: dynamic, threatening words by a politician to a reporter --- who veered off track from the intended discussion on the president’s State of the Union address, points out Grumpy Editor.
Heavy coverage of Grimm extended several days after the irritated congressman, the only Republican representing a significant portion of New York City, told NY1 cable reporter Michael Scotto at the Capitol Rotunda that “I’ll break you in half”…and “I’ll throw you off this f-----g balcony.”
Grimm said for Scotto to ask about a federal investigation into campaign finances --- in which he has not been charged with a crime --- as part of that interview was a “cheap shot.”
Grimm later apologized, saying he had "lost his cool."
Background factors for his actions media overlooked: Grimm, a businessman and attorney, spent eight years on Marine Corps active duty and as a reservist. He was involved in the Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Among his awards was the combat action ribbon. He later worked as an FBI agent for nine years.
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UNIVERSITY PLANS ANNUAL REPORTING AWARD. University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Journalism Ethics is seeking applications for a national Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics. It’s named after a graduate, winner of two Pulitzer prizes, who died in 2012 while crossing the Syrian border on a reporting assignment for the New York Times. A $1,000 award goes go to the journalist (or team) whose reporting “best exemplifies four key criteria: accountability, independence, reporting in search of truth and minimization of harm to subjects, sources and the public at large,” says the university.
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