Quote Lifter Calls It 'Honest Mistake'

By: Charles Geraci An editor at the Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen, who resigned May 28 after failing to properly attribute two quotations in a story about the University of Arizona women's softball team, told E&P on Thursday, "I was under pressure and I made an honest mistake."

Jack Rickard, 68, who worked at the paper for over 30 years, most recently as golf editor, lifted the quotes from the rival Arizona Daily Star, thinking they were available for all press members, he said.

In the wake of the Jayson Blair and Jack Kelley scandals, the Citizen has "paid more attention to ethical standards," said Editor and Publisher Michael Chihak. "However, we've always employed the minimum standards prescribed by Gannett," which owns the Citizen.

But Rickard said, "I don't think this is comparable to Jayson Blair or Jack Kelley, but that doesn't make what I did completely right. I was put in an unfortunate situation and I made a mistake."

Rickard claims that his original story sent to the sports editor did not contain quotations but after the sports editor allegedly "yelled at" Rickard for not having any quotes, he sent in two from the Daily Star. Rickard was soon brought in to see Chihak. "I said I was sorry," Rickard recalled. "I asked him to take my work at the paper over the years into consideration but he was not receptive to anything I had to say."

Three days later, Rickard offered his resignation. "I realized I didn't want to continue working for this paper," he said. "I was tired of the daily grind."

Chihak refused to say whether or not Rickard would have been fired but emphasized that "the issue of attribution is a very serious one at this paper."

The Citizen ran a correction in its June 2 edition revealing the lack of proper attribution as well as Rickard's decision to resign. Rickard did not believe that notice was necessary and has some final thoughts for his one-time superiors. "Let me retire with dignity."