Perhaps I misinterpreted these claims, then:
I've
worked for and with the New York Times, the Racine Journal Times, the
Chicago Tribune, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Those aren't claims -- those are facts. I have worked for and with all
four of those newspapers. For you (or anyone else) to assume that my
employment had anything to do with being a reporter, of all things, is
presumptuous. I've never claimed to be one, nor, after my first two years
in newspapers, did I ever want to be one.

Anyone who has ever worked in newspapers knows that the newsroom makes up a
tiny percentage of the workforce -- probably less than 10%. Why in hell you
would think that everyone who says they've worked in newspapers is a
reporter is a mystery.

I told the newsroom people what to do in order to maximize
sales.

That is 100% correct. I did precisely that, in daily meetings, for years.
That's marketing -- and if newspapers had paid more attention to it over the
years perhaps they wouldn't be dying now.

You have commented on reporting in this newsgroup and said it was because
of your previous career as "a newsman." That's what I object to.

That is a lie. I have never, ever claimed to be a reporter at a daily
newspaper -- even though I have published magazine articles.

Amazing rant, and it explains a lot about your disdain for reporting. I
didn't think you were the type to make such an attack, or that you hated
journalists so intensely.

I don't hate journalists. I hate people who claim to be journalists that
call me a liar or a fraud in an international forum.

If I'm not making myself clear here, that would be YOU, Stella.

Jay, I'm disappointed in you. While people enjoy your descriptive writing
about flying ventures, you seem to put more energy into silly arguments
and a great deal of vitriol into defending some wild-ass opinions. If you
stick with your strong points, you could regain some of that respect.

I don't give two ****s about your "disappointment". No one accuses me of
lying about my newspaper credentials and doesn't get called to task for
it -- I don't care how many times you've stayed in my hotel, or how many
times your husband buys the beer. You were totally, 100% out of line for
saying what you did, and your pointless blather isn't going to change that.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"