BOSTON HERALD COLUMNIST BACK ON HIS BEAT

By: Lucia Moses Following Protests, Washington Reinstated



Boston Herald consumer/transportation columnist Robin Washington
is back on the beat, covering FleetBoston Financial Corp., the subject
of a dispute with his editors that led to his two-week suspension
earlier this month.



FleetBoston is the nation's eighth-biggest bank and a potential lender
for the Herald's planned press purchase. Last month, Washington,
who had written about the bank's controversial plans to raise customer
fees, said he was ordered to stop writing about FleetBoston, then
suspended after he complained publicly. The Herald agreed to
reinstate him following protests from news staffers and community
members.



Washington's first column since returning May 14 reports on a push to
curtail the practice by FleetBoston and other banks of sending people
unsolicited high-interest loan offers.



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PROTESTERS RALLY TO SUPPORT SUSPENDED COLUMNIST (05/02/00)



BOSTON HERALD STAFFER SUSPENDED (05/01/00)



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