UPDATE: AP's Curley Replies to Letter About Fired Reporter

By: E&P Staff Vermont?s two U.S. Senators and congressman, and the state's governor, sent a letter to Associated Press CEO Tom Curley on Friday, asking that he explain why long-time journalist Christopher Graff was fired on Monday, and that he be reinstated to his post.

Later in the day, Curley replied in a lengthy letter, saying personnel records could not be opened and rejecting their notion that politics might be involved, calling that idea "nuts."

Graff, 52, has covered state politics for three decades, hosted a TV show, and served most recently as chief of the AP bureau in Montpelier. He has declined requests by E&P and other media outlets to talk about reasons for his departure, citing legal issues, and reportedly has hired a lawyer.

Speculation has centered on Graff's decision to run a "Sunshine Week" opinion piece by one of the state's U.S. senators, Patrick Leahy, a leading Democrat.

The Vermont Guardian web site published the text of the letter to Curley signed by Leahy, Sen. Jim Jeffords, Rep. Bernie Sanders, and Gov. Jim Douglas (see below), in which they said they were "outraged" by what had transpired.

The Guardian also observed: "Editors at several Vermont papers, who are members of AP, say that an op-ed piece penned by Leahy on the AP news wire was recalled earlier this month after it was sent out to papers by the Vermont bureau as part of its editorial package focusing on Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week is a time when the news media focuses on issues related to the public?s right to know and open government."

An editorial in the Friday edition of the daily Brattleboro Reformer stated: "The AP should be embarrassed by their decision to fire Graff and the perception that it gives to Vermonters that the AP has given in to the claque that constantly screams about 'liberal bias' in the news media.

"But it's not only that. The AP casually discarded one of Vermont's best journalists and weakened its reporting on statewide issues as a result. "

As published by the Vermont Guardian, here is the text of the letter to Curley. After that, Curley's reply.

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Letter to Curley from the four elected officials:

Along with our Vermont constituents, we are stunned, outraged and saddened by the summary dismissal this week of longtime head of AP?s Vermont Bureau, Chris Graff.

We send this letter without Mr. Graff?s consent or even his knowledge, and he probably would have asked us not to send it if we had asked. But the prominence of this position, the importance of AP to our state and its communities, and the poor treatment of a prominent and respected Vermont journalist of Chris Graff?s caliber make this a matter that we cannot ignore or passively accept. We realize that The Associated Press is a private, member-owned newsgathering service, but AP?s vital presence in Vermont, as across the nation, clearly propels this decision into the realm of public interest and concern. The public has placed its trust in AP and, in turn, the public expects a degree of openness from AP that has not been forthcoming. Accordingly, we expect a substantive response to our requests.

As news subjects ourselves, we have not always enjoyed or agreed with AP?s coverage decisions ? the same can be said by any frequent news subjects about the news organizations that regularly cover them ? but we agree that, by any appropriate measure, Mr. Graff has been fair, objective, public-spirited, courageous and dedicated to the public?s right to know the truth. He has been a tremendous credit to AP in Vermont and beyond. It was completely natural, for instance, when Vermont Public Television selected Mr. Graff more than a decade ago to be the permanent moderator of public television?s two leading Vermont-wide public affairs programs.

There have been many reports suggesting the reasons for Mr. Graff?s abrupt termination. Although we choose not to fuel speculation, we believe that if any of these reports were founded, it would represent a serious breach of trust by AP with its loyal Vermont readership. If AP wants to repair this rift, it must work to clear the air ? to let the sunshine in ? on this most unfortunate conclusion.

We support Chris Graff?s immediate reinstatement, if that is what he would want. Beyond that, we also ask for answers to questions that continue to proliferate in the wake of this decision.

Chris Graff is the personification of the great attributes of good journalism: professionalism, courage, steadiness, and public service by honoring the public?s right to know. We would like to believe that attributes like these, lived day-to-day by devoted reporters like Chris Graff, will never go out of style.

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Response from AP's Curley:

Thank you for your letter, your sincere concern about Chris Graff, your deep understanding of the role of The Associated Press and your steadfast support for the free flow of information.

You all are involved in the making of laws and fully cognizant of the court precedents that routinely follow. You know we cannot and will not engage in a discussion of confidential personnel decisions. It is inappropriate to expect AP to open up personnel records of one of its employees to public scrutiny unless it is forced to do so under court order. In this situation, AP is not being secretive but respectful of an employee with 27 years of service and is adhering to the widely accepted personnel practices and labor laws that I?m certain you adhere to in your own workplaces.

We understand that in the absence of any detail people will continue to speculate about what happened. However, we must note that speculation can be erroneous and damaging both for Chris and The Associated Press.

You further suggested that AP might be bowing to political pressure. That?s just nuts. The issue is purely one of internal policy.

It is a matter of fact that AP has been a vocal leader in fighting for the public?s right to know for decades. Most recently, and of interest to the world, AP sued and successfully forced the government to release the identities of people being held in secret by the US government at Guantanamo.

In addition, AP journalists in all 50 states recently participated in a ground-breaking study of how state and local laws have changed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

It was The Associated Press that broke the story of the Bush Administration?s secret deal with the United Arab Emirates company to run our nation?s ports.

It was The Associated Press that first acquired and then ran the video of the FEMA briefings that exposed the level of detail about the New Orleans levee problems the Bush Administration had in its possession, contrary to the administration?s public statements.

Our efforts continue at the state level as well. In just the past 12 months AP has fought to pry open the public records, public meetings and court proceedings in more than 20 states.

We can state emphatically that we remain devoted to this core value of The Associated Press: to bring to light information that the public has a right to know. However, individual personnel records ? whether at private companies or at local, state or federal government entities ? are rarely part of the public record, and that is what is at issue in the Graff case.

Most important, let me assure you that The Associated Press remains fully committed to providing Vermont the coverage it needs and deserves. We believe our coverage will be maintained if not improved in the months ahead.