To quote Marty: Unbelieveable!
Signal-to-Noise: (Editorial/Commentary*) Despite making a public vow a few years ago to stop listening to talk radio, I can't help myself. I'm weak.
Which is why I wound up listening to Marty Griffin on KDKA (1020) this morning.
(Memo to Marty: Stop screaming! You're on the radio! We can hear you!)
. . .
Usually, Griffin's rants bounce off of me like a puck off the stick of a Capitals defenseman, but my ears perked up when I heard him start railing against Pittsburgh City Paper and the ACLU.
Along with the ACLU, the alt-weekly (co-owned with WRRK-FM and WLTJ-FM) is trying to force Allegheny County officials to release the court order that sealed the divorce proceedings of Richard Mellon Scaife and his estranged wife, Ritchie.
. . .
According to Griffin, City Paper and the ACLU are invading Mr. Scaife's privacy. I don't have an exact transcript, but his remarks went something like this:
"City Paper ought to be ashamed of itself. That thing is full of ads for strippers and hookers anyway. And what about the ACLU? With all of the problems Americans are facing, this is the best they can do?" Etc.
. . .
You can't make this up! Marty Griffin, who has made a career as an "investigative reporter" out of (arguably) invading people's privacy, has suddenly become a privacy advocate!
Marty Griffin, who often stands in front of KDKA-TV's cameras holding government documents that he's "obtained," now supports the right of court officers to seal government documents without a public hearing!
Oh, to quote South Park, if irony were made out of strawberries, we'd all be drinking a lot of smoothies.
. . .
In case you've been living under a rock, Scaife is a millionaire philanthropist and the publisher of the Tribune-Review and a string of suburban newspapers. He's also the majority stockholder of KQV (1410).
Divorce proceedings are usually open to the public; the court's unusual decision to seal this case could lead you to suspect that a certain favoritism is being exercised toward Scaife.
City Paper wants to see the court order that sealed the case, and has so far been rebuffed.
. . .
CP editor Chris Potter tells PBRTV: "We're not asking for the juicy documents to be opened --- we're just asking for the explanation about why they were closed in the first place."
It's hard to argue that's an invasion of privacy, or that the public doesn't have a right to learn how judges made their rulings.
But that's what the attorneys in this case --- and now, KDKA "investigator" Marty Griffin --- are saying.
(In the interest of full disclosure: I'm a member of the ACLU and a former Trib employee. And I was twice featured in recent City Paper stories.)
. . .
Strangely, Marty didn't mention the fact that City Paper examined local media invasions of privacy back in February 2007.
The cover story by Melissa Meinzer focused on the events that led to the suicide of Brent Dugan, pastor of a church in Ben Avon. It seems a local reporter had obtained evidence that Rev. Dugan was buying pornography and confronted him in a story for the 6 p.m. news.
Before the story aired, Dugan took his own life.
. . .
The reporter on that story? Step forward, Marty Griffin! Or maybe not. He wouldn't talk to City Paper at the time.
You don't suppose that Marty is carrying some sort of grudge toward City Paper, do you?
Nah. Anyone who would carry that kind of a grudge would be (in Marty Griffin's words) a "hater."
Meanwhile, pass me the blender ... I'm jonesing for a smoothie.
. . .
* --- This story was updated after its original publication to include Potter's comment and make other revisions.
Editor's note: Opinions expressed in commentaries are those of the authors, and do not reflect those of PBRTV, its other correspondents, or any organizations with which they may be affiliated.
Readers’ Forum
If it wouldn’t be an insult to all of our friends of the equine persuasion, I would be tempted to call Marty an ass. Oh what the heck, if the shoe fits…
Bruce - May 11, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Why do you think they call it “whoreporate media?”
Rick - May 11, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Its all about the Tribune being more conservative than the media/legal industrial complex approving of.
Roy - May 12, 2009 at 06:26 am
Marty’s show is too much in your face for Pittsburghs. Frankly it gets old. It’s kind of like the old Morton Downey Jr. Show. It’s different for awhile, but it gets old fast….KDKA would do themselves better if they would have a differnet format in the morning such as an entertainment type or sports talk show in the morning. All negative and no positive in his shows….
Bob - May 12, 2009 at 11:37 am
I know Griffin, and he could give a damn about some two-bit website and their silly rants. Why the hell is the ACLU care anyway?
Richie - May 12, 2009 at 8:11 pm
This is clearly a three-bit website, Richie. Your math skills are as good as your English: “Why the hell is the ACLU care”?
Jason Togyer - May 12, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Two-bit, three bit…whatever. The bottom line is, does Mr. Griffin have any credibility as a “journalist.” The answer, clearly, is no. Does he make a nice living? Yes. Does he attract an audience? yes. Is he credible? No.
Bruce - May 13, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Sorry about the typo, but please do not miss my point. Why does the ACLU care about a PRIVATE citizen? Answer the question. Being an investigative journalist on public issues does not constitute ‘an invasion of privacy,’ but what the ACLU wants to do is… period. Sorry, Togyer, you and the ACLU are the hypocrites on this one.
Richie - May 14, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I like this three-bit website.Lets me know what’s going on back home. Must admit,it’s been a loooong time since I listened to talk radio.Anyway,that’s my two bits.
Conrad - May 14, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Marty’s show does get old fast. He is all about Marty. When he has a guest he does not let them get a full sentence in and the same with all callers. He is so lucky he is where he is. He is a hypocrite totally!
Carrie P. - May 16, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Geeeeeez, I cannot stand to listen to Marty’s show. His favorite phrases are “Hold on a second …...” as he never lets anyone finish a sentence. His other favorite and overused phrase is “Come on man, come on”. I’d rather listen to fingernails going down a chalkboard. Ugh.
Not a Marty Fan - May 18, 2009 at 11:42 am
I do notice how NONE of you get to real point of the argument: why is the ACLU investigating a private citizen? No, you rip on Griffin’s style, comments, etc., but you’ve all missed the real point of the issue. Why doesn’t that surprise me?
Richie - May 24, 2009 at 3:01 pm
In response to Conrad, I think the last time I listened to talk radio was when Air America was carried on WKRC. Since next to no one carries LW or moderate talk radio in and around Indiana County, trying to find a talk radio station worth listening to is like trying to find a fitness show in which women have the spine to wear tights.
Rick - May 27, 2009 at 12:36 am