Detroit News auto critic Scott Burgess during an appearance on Auto Line Live.
Scott Burgess, the often-outspoken auto writer who quit after his critical review of the Chrysler 200 was censored by the Detroit News, has returned to the paper following its decision to apologize to readers and the reporter.
A former correspondent for the U.S. military’s Stars and Stripes, Burgess resigned, a week ago, when the Detroit News told him to soften a Chrysler review that had appeared in print before it was copied onto the paper’s website. Initially, Burgess agreed but then decided to resign due to what he felt were the unacceptable reasons behind the editorial changes.
In a weekend mea culpa, News Editor and Publisher Jonathan Wolman agreed that it was inappropriate for editorial policies to be dictated by an angry advertiser. He offered an apology to both readers and Burgess. (For more, Click Here.)
It is still not clear which advertiser initially pressured the paper for changes, though sources say it was not Chrysler. Indications are that it was a Chrysler dealer worried about the impact of Burgess’ critique on already soft demand for the new Chrysler compact.
Saying that the Detroit News is filled with “world-class journalists,” Burgess suggested that the flap that followed his departure has helped them “shine.” In an e-mail to the blog Jalopnik.com, which broke the story of his battle with the News, Burgess said, “I accept the paper’s apology and return with the same energy and vigor I have always tried to hold.”
The Burgess flap is likely to elevate discussion of the role advertisers play in the way editorial decisions are made, especially in a world where traditional publications, like the Detroit News, struggle, but where many among the so-called “new media” don’t always have the same commitment to independent journalism that traditionally held in the newsroom.