Thad, let's talk about your and NCJ errors, unlike your PR piece defending the DA's debacle in the Marci Kitchen case

Thad let's talk about errors.

You may have forgotten your error in the Gary Bullock case where you screwed up majorily writing about the jury. This was in a case you attended for about an hour.

I will refresh your memory.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2016/04/clarifying-errors-in-mainstream-media.html?m=1

Let's not forget this pathetic hit piece.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2016/12/ncj-must-have-forgotten-time-they.html?m=1

Ben Okin sent me a private email about  Allan Dollison's legal analysis on Marci Kitchen's sentence. Ben Okin who is  one of Marci Kitchen's former lawyers. I am sure there were others  who were unhappy too about Allan's analysis. It exposed the Humboldt Superior Court system.

When bullying me and Allan did not work, someone decided to run to you and have you do a hit piece.



Your article is based on what was told to you by a District Attorney who never questioned Marci Kitchen's source of bail, never fought for Marci Kitchen to wear an ankle monitor and a DA who agreed to a plea deal for the death of two girls for which Marci Kitchen was sentenced to 8 years. As District Attorney,  Maggie Fleming had the final say on the plea.

Only the DA has access to all the evidence in this case. Why should we trust this DA saying that Marci Kitchen was charged appropriately?

Why should we trust this DA who allowed Marci Kitchen to walk free for two years but is okay with three hearings on source of bail for a drug bust? Ariel Sosa did not hit and run after killing two young girls.

Why not quote a neutral third party on Allan's legal analysis?

The only sloppy journalism is by you Thad. NCJ's coverage on the Kitchen case has been pathetic. Like most of NCJ's court coverage.

I am sure we will see an analysis of the probation report in your next issue or maybe some inside information from investigator Max Hadley.

Who do you think the public trusts? Someone who stands up to the corruption and establishment in this town or someone who does PR pieces attacking independent, grassroots reporting?

Thad, a real journalist does not sit on a police advisory board and be friends with a former police chief.  That's one major conflict of interest. You played both sides well; being buddy buddy with the former police chief while letting your leftie supporters think you are calling out law enforcement. Then again, Andy Mills told each side what they wanted to hear. "Sucking up" works well in Humboldt.

Unlike you, I am open about who I talk to  and who I meet. Now the hypocritical left adores Matthew Owen but there was a time, your little coffee chats with Matthew would have been viewed differently.

You only got the Lance Madsen scoop about Cyndi Day-Wilson because some of the local fake moderates/ conservatives who haven't a clue about what journalism is or who is effective thought publishing it in "the leftie activist rag" you work for was a brilliant political move. Unless you prefer the other description, "North Coast Urinal." These are the same "brilliant strategists" that caused the progressive left to gain victories in recent City of Eureka and Humboldt County elections.

No one controls what I write which is why you got that "scoop." And you did deliver well on the hit piece on Cyndi Day-Wilson.

NCJ completely ignored the Kailan Meserve case. A real media outlet would have covered the story.

NCJ's court coverage mostly involves cut and paste from documents. Having a DA or a defense investigator give you a quote and slapping together some words doesn't constitute an article.


There is some competition now in local reporting (not just from me) to the little Times-Standard, NCJ, LOCO media cabal that can't handle competition or real reporting. Same group that passes from one local outlet to another. Can't get a job outside Humboldt? Been here for years and no one outside a small group of politicians and your groupies knows who you all are.

You forget that I have seen you talking often with Paul Gallegos or Luke Brownfield after court (when they were at the DA's office) writing down and having them explain exactly what happened in court. Passing that off with your byline may have made you look smart; you aren't. Nor does it qualify as reporting. Real reporters can take notes and rarely ask for clarification.

Dan Squier and Rhonda Parker have taken up your wooing of certain attorneys. Ever wonder why Dan Squier and Rhonda Parker are never critical of Deputy DAs Trent Timm or Luke Bernthal. Just one example. They get rewarded, just like you by fawning, cozy little chats and having things "explained."

A real journalist would also call out the factual errors by TS' Dan Squier. A real journalist would call out that a criminal defense attorney's wife covers courts for LOCO. You are a hypocrite.

I created the interest in a certain type of court coverage and built an audience before certain copycats jumped in to benefit. I welcome real competition and honest reporting like the local TV reporters.

Fake "ass kissers" like you should be standing up for the People, instead you consistently attack a grassroots, independent reporter.  Thad, NCJ, LOCO and TS  feel entitled to be the only "media" because of your white liberal privilege and disguise your racism and transphobia and your insecurities about my success by pretending your hit pieces are "news."

Despite sharing resources among TS, LOCO and NCJ, you all still can't keep up with output, original news or scoops with other media. And the rest of us multi tasking and doing several things at once.

Reprinting Kym Kemp or LOCO coverage is not reporting Thad. NCJ's output for the amount of staff you have is pathetic.