West Criticizes Paper

Editor calls attack by West "red herring"	West Publishing Co. said that the Star Tribune used reprehensible tactics and engaged in "tabloid journalism of the worst kind" in a published report about the company's practice of giving luxurious trips to U.S. Supreme Court justices and federal judges who made decisions important to the company. In a news conference at company headquarters in Eagan, a West spokeswoman said the report was "just plain wrong," though she failed to cite inaccuracies when asked. Ruth Stanoch, West's manager of government and media relations, charged that the newspaper failed to disclose its own conflict of interest. Stanoch said the Star Tribune plans to launch an online computer news service and "stands to gain by diminishing the reputation and the good standing of West." West is planning an online service to cover news relating to legal affairs. The Star Tribune's editor, Tim McGuire, called Stanoch's statement a "red herring." He said the newspaper doesn't see West's online service as a competitor, adding that Star Tribune reporters were working on the story long before West announced plans to go online. "I find this attack public relations," said McGuire. "We made it very clear to West we are not going to be in competition with them . . . We are not going to become a legal service. "However, the most important point here," said McGuire, "is that this is a story driven by the actions of the U.S. Supreme Court justices and members of the federal judiciary accepting trips and gifts from a corporation while they were reviewing cases pertaining to that corporation."
West says the paper acted "without regard for the integrity of the judiciary and the reputations of distinguished public servants"	The newspaper reported that seven justices and other federal judges accepted trips paid for by West to expensive resorts and hotels. The judges took the trips while serving on a committee to select the winners of the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award, a $15,000 West-sponsored prize given each year to a federal judge for outstanding judicial service. The trips occurred over a 13-year period in which the justices and judges were in a position to consider lawsuits involving West and make policy decisions regarding court business with the company. The company, which employs about 4,500 in the Twin Cities area and 1,500 elsewhere, is the leading publisher of federal court decisions. In a written statement provided at the news conference, West stated that it is "proud of its sponsorship of the Devitt Award. We take great pains to maintain its integrity and independence." Stanoch said the Star Tribune acted "without regard for the integrity of the judiciary and the reputations of distinguished public servants" and "cynically exploits public mistrust of government." She said West will deliver a letter to the Minnesota News Council "highlighting the Star Tribune's repeated unwillingness to divulge to their readers that it is now in an online information services business in direct competition with West. This is vital information that even the most casual ethical observer would say goes to the heart of the newspaper's motive in pursuing this story in the first place."
Editor: "We made it clear that what they did is legal, but our readers need to decide whether it's right"	Stanoch pointed out that the newspaper article acknowledged that West did nothing illegal in sponsoring the trips. But the newspaper quoted several leading ethics experts who questioned the propriety of judges accepting benefits from West when in a position to rule on legal issues involving the company. "We made it clear that what they did is legal," McGuire said of West Publishing's sponsorship of the trips. "But our readers need to decide whether it's right." He said he welcomed the appeal to the news council and believed the council would find the Star Tribune acted properly. The council hears complaints made against news organizations by individuals and organizations, though its ultimate rulings carry no legal weight.