Reuters Editor Booted, Wrote Coulter Smear Book

Nobody is talking details but it seems that Reuters editor Joe Maguire lost his job just as he submitted the final version of his smear book on Ann Coulter.

From NYTimes.com:

On Tuesday, Joe Maguire, one of two editors in charge of markets coverage at Reuters, handed his bosses the galleys of his new book, "Brainless: The Lies and Lunacy of Ann Coulter." On Wednesday, Mr. Maguire discovered he would have plenty of free time to promote his book, which comes out this week. Neither side in this dispute would say that he was fired.

Maguire was granted approval to write the book but the approval was apparently withdrawn after Reuters management saw the content. In a company statement:

"Our editorial policy and The Reuters Trust Principles are prominently displayed for all to see on www.about.reuters.com. Mr. Maguire's book will soon be available. Both speak for themselves."

The Trust Principles are "integrity, independence and freedom from bias."

Now I haven't read nor do I plan to read the Maguire book. With confidence, I expect it's full of false premises and avoids facts like all the other leftist screeds in the marketplace. Given that, I find it interesting that Reuters has standards of objectivity. The company has often been pejoratively called al-Reuters for its reliably leftist slant and let's not forget the recent controversy over "doctored" Reuters photos of the Israeli-Hezbollah War. Maybe Reuters management has adopted a new strategy of reporting facts as opposed to opinion.

Just don't expect me to hold my breath. Reuters is light years distant from objective journalism.