Reuters: U.S.: NY Post editor must answer Murdoch, chimp queries

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NY Post editor must answer Murdoch, chimp queries Jul 3rd 2012, 22:24 Tweet Share this Email Print Related News News Corp split sets stage for possible Lachlan return Thu, Jun 28 2012 Murdoch's UK chief told Cameron "we're in this together" Thu, Jun 14 2012 Twist in Murdoch saga strains Britain's coalition Wed, Jun 13 2012 Murdoch confidante in court over hacking scandal Wed, Jun 13 2012 Ex-British PM contradicts Murdoch claim to inquiry Mon, Jun 11 2012 Analysis & Opinion Murdoch deal is a non-core disposal – not a split Split wouldn't fix all News Corp's shortcomings Related Topics U.S. » Rupert Murdoch » The New York Post printing plant is seen in the Bronx borough of New York, November 17, 2009. Credit: Reuters/Chip East By Jonathan Stempel Tue Jul 3, 2012 6:24pm EDT (Reuters) - The editor of the New York Post may be forced to answer questions about his discussions with media mogul Rupert Murdoch over fallout from the newspaper's publication of a cartoon that appeared to liken President Barack Obama to a chimpanzee. A federal judge in Manhattan said editor Col Allan could not invoke "editorial privilege" and avoid answering questions posed by Sandra Guzman, a former associate editor suing the newspaper for alleged employment discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, gender and national origin. Guzman, who is black and Puerto Rican, in November 2009 sued the Post and parent News Corp, which Murdoch runs, saying she had been fired in retaliation for complaints over inappropriate conduct. She also claimed to be among those who objected to the February 18, 2009 cartoon that depicted a policeman shooting a crazed chimpanzee, a play on an actual Connecticut incident. The cartoon referred to the recently adopted $787 billion federal economic stimulus and many people saw the chimpanzee as a depiction of Obama. Murdoch later apologized to readers. In an order dated June 29, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis said Allan refused during a seven-hour deposition in February to answer several questions related to the cartoon and one related to a photo of a nude man published in connection with former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey's divorce. The questions over the cartoon covered such matters as whether Allan told Murdoch he disagreed with publishing an apology and whether Allan understood Murdoch to have believed it was a mistake to do so. In ordering Allan to submit to another two hours of being deposed, Ellis said the editor had been seeking to improperly broaden the scope of journalist privilege. Ellis said this privilege more typically applies to cases involving reporters and the protection of sources as part of the "newsgathering" process. In contrast, in the employment discrimination context, "the plaintiff may explore the motivations of decision makers, or individuals who influenced the decision maker or participated in the decision," Ellis wrote. News Corp and a lawyer for the Post did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. A lawyer for Guzman did not immediately respond to a similar request. The case is Guzman v News Corp et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 09-09323. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Andre Grenon) Related Quotes and News Company Price Related News Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (1) "NY Post editor must answer Murdoch, chimp queries" Ooo Eee Ooo Ah Ah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang Jul 03, 2012 6:29pm EDT  --  Report as abuse See All Comments » Add Your Comment

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