Jackson Jambalaya

Had someone inside the JFP sent you damaging source data from a JFP email address and had you run with the story complete with documentation only a JFP insider could have accessed you can bet your lack nickel Stauffer would be pouring through the records to discover the identity of the offender.

You are correct. However, I would know he would be doing it SO I would think of another way to get the information or use some good ole counter-plays. Reporter should've known better and printed it out.

I'll bet you that wasn't the first document the reporter leaked to the JFP in violation of the employment agreement. The reporter should have known better. But I have no doubt that this young man's behavior to leak had been cultivated and was encouraged by a key individual who, no doubt, convinced him in this instance that Judy Lewis was wrong and that it was the right thing to do to expose her.

Except for that document, I seriously doubt MPB had anything worth leaking other than Gene Edward's love letters to himself.

Lots of internal communications gets leaked to Ladd from young idealistic metro area media types because she cultivates the leaks. Lewis' time in the job was controversial internally from an early point. If you want to believe that was the only document then feel free to naively believe so.

10:51,

Donna, Dat you?

Don't recognize sarcasm when you see it, do you?

JFP Person of the Day for August 16, 2010
Former MPB reporter XXXX XXXXXX

"Honestly, if I didn't get fired for this, it would've been for something else like budget cuts or any other unforeseen circumstance," he [former MPB reporter XXXX XXXXXX] says. "In a business like that, it's just really hard to keep your mouth shut, especially when something is going wrong right in front of you in your own agency."

Yeah, I know. Knew it was published, just saw it again today and felt like pointing it out. You'd expect the publication to exercise some responsibility and protect the name of the source from public disclosure even if his employer knew.

Why shouldn't potential employers know what kind of character this person has? Why deceive them into thinking he is honest? Let him/her take the consequences for actions he/she chose.

It is the city's "smart alternative."

This kid is so stupid I'll bet he doesn't truly understand what he has done. He has now told everyone in a braggadocio manner that he can't be trusted to keep confidential info confidential if he perceives something to be "wrong". It is one thing to think it, another thing to share with friends but beyond stupid to say that to the JFP in an interview that he had to have known would be published.

Where was that dude's mentors?

Oops, my bad, I forgot, his mentors were at the JFP.

Unbelievable, the title shouldn't be Breaking News, it should have been, "Leak to JFP Results in Firing of MPB Reporter".

This is an entertaining little soap opera........pretty sad cast, though.

10:51, I have been out of town and just catching up. First, you assume this reporter's employment file/record was free of blemishes. You are dead wrong. He was about to be fired for cause. Dr. Lewis's time was was controversial internally because she wanted the employees of MPB to be accountable for their actions. You must work there or you would never had made that comment.

The email the reporter leaked was obtained via a conventional public records request straight from MPB, whose inside communications are subject to FOIA laws because they're a state agency that receives tax dollars. It wasn't the smartest thing to do for him to send the email directly from his work account, but it also definitely wasn't confidential, seeing as MPB internal emails are in the public domain.

Kingfish, someone with as much legal experience as you claim to have should know this. The reporter spoke out in public about why he did what he did, unapologetically with bravado. And the "search engine demons" all show overwhelming support and a blogosphere-generated hero/martyr narrative on the side of the reporter. In blue states, I'd say a reporter standing up to media censorship would be applauded, not jeered. I'd wager the young man's job opportunities in more liberal markets have widened since he went public.

On the other hand, Dr. Lewis resigned amidst months of bad press with her name attached and refused requests for an interview. If anything, this is a bold display of will and honesty on the reporter's part and a lack of spine on Dr. Lewis' part.

Leaking was one thing, bragging about it in an interview is different. Since you obviously have not applied for a job in the last few years, let me tell you what happens.

They google your name and your email address. An employer sees that, he can forget about being hired. I also understand he had gotten in trouble for writing letters to CL as well. He will learn the hard way I guess. My contention is with the editors for not protecting him better. Its one thing for MPB to know it, its another for the whole world as well.