ONE MAN BANNED

Yesterday, I learned I was banned four months ago.

I can no longer teach at conventions hosted by the College Media Association. After 20 years as a dues-paying member and 16 years leading some of the most popular sessions – according to CMA itself – I stand accused of making students feel unsafe.

I only found this out because I got a short, polite email yesterday announcing all my sessions for next month’s convention were “not accepted.” When I asked what happened, CMA president Kenna Griffin told me the CMA board of directors voted – back in October – “not to accept future sessions from you for CMA conventions.”

Why?

We made this decision after receiving complaints from multiple students about things you said to them at our conventions and things you wrote on your blog. These students said they would no longer attend conventions where you were presenting and were discouraging other staffs from doing so as well.

What were the specific complaints?

One student specifically told us that you said you could “make or break her career” during either a critique or Midnight Snack (I don’t remember which) in New York. We also were contacted by students and spoke with members who were extremely concerned about your blog post related to seemingly non-consensual sex and journalism conventions.

“Seemingly non-consensual sex”? I wrote a blog post last year about losing my virginity – four decades ago in high school – to a drunk woman who propositioned me. And I don’t recall ever telling a student I could “make or break” her career. I can barely make my own career.

Still, Griffin said, “We decided as a board that having you present at conventions was endorsing this behavior by giving you a platform to engage with student attendees. Therefore, we voted not to accept future convention sessions from you.”

Griffin said my banishment falls under CMA’s new Code of Conduct, but she hasn’t told me which provisions I’ve violated. She did add, “I don’t think the concerns were specifically with your sessions.”

Double-secret probation

I’ve requested a hearing, because this seems like a weird lack of transparency and due process from a journalism organization. I have a press conference worth of questions…

Why wait four months – and for me to ask – before revealing I’ve been banned?
The minutes of all CMA board meetings are posted, and my banishment isn’t mentioned in any of them. The minutes from October 29 and October 31 also don’t indicate an executive session where this sort of thing might be handled. What kind of secret vote was this?
From what past president Chris Evans told me, the CMA board learned about the “make or break” comment not from the student but her adviser. Evans admitted he never spoke with the student and doesn’t even know her name. How many “multiple students” did the board actually hear from?
When do I learn what else I’ve allegedly said? It must be scary as hell, since it’s keeping students from attending conventions.
CMA has offered no way to appeal or even apologize. Griffin declared, “We will not approve programming from you unless a future board votes otherwise.” So this decision is both secret and permanent?

It’s not a stretch to wonder if something else is going on here.

Business or pleasure?

Over the years, I’ve irritated CMA leaders. But always journalistically.

Just one example: In 2014, CMA leaders closed board meetings to their members. I led the fight to reopen them, arguing it’s hypocritical for journalists to kick journalists out of meetings about journalism. I won the battle but lost some friends.

I also didn’t support Griffin’s candidacy, and I’ve been vocal (although not rude) about changes I believe CMA should make. But I’m no anarchist or malcontent. Some of those changes have actually been adopted, albeit grudgingly, and I created and still operate CMA’s annual Day of Giving.

Now I’ve come up with a new day of giving.

Session independence

This morning, I reserved a one-room suite at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square for Friday and Saturday, March 14-15. That’s where and when CMA hosts its annual spring convention.

I’ll present my sessions to any college journalist who feels safe enough to be in the same room with me.

Since Griffin acknowledges my sessions didn’t get me banned, she shouldn’t object – because CMA isn’t “endorsing” me or giving me a “platform.” I’m paying for everything. And it’s already worth every penny.

11Comments

Add yours

1

conductive reasoning on Feb 12, 2020 at 1:58 pm

Can an organization do this to a member in good standing? Can you get a lawyer? Weaponizing codes of conduct seems like a ruthlessly effective way for organizations to muzzle dissent. No evidence required! Just vote behind closed doors and don’t announce the result until asked about it.

Does the CMA really expect intelligent people to respect their process much less their decision?
2

Jane Primerano on Feb 12, 2020 at 2:46 pm

Well, you are an anarchist and a malcontent, but that’s why we love you! This is totally ridiculous. It gives off a strong stench of retaliation. How unprofessional of the CMA.
3

emdrums on Feb 12, 2020 at 3:06 pm

This is a shame and honestly hypocritical of the organization. I hope they realize the sessions this ban will lead students to miss out on. In turn, Koretzky coordinated multiple speakers — myself included — to present at CMA. Our sessions were consistently standing-room-only and highly rated. This move will have a trickle down effect.
4

Steven Biller on Feb 12, 2020 at 3:24 pm

CMA behaves like Trump’s DOJ. #resist
- 5
  
  Sam on Dec 18, 2021 at 6:29 am
  
  Hopefully you’ve reconsidered this as it seems relatively clear that the type of person going after Koretzky is the same kind of person who opposed Trump in the most deranged of ways from both outside and inside the Federal institutions which he was nominally in control of.
  
  I find it wild that “Diversity Bullies” and those who push conspiracy theories about sexism and racism could be confused with Trump and his ineffective and undermining agencies. One major difference is that they are ideological opposites, the other is that the people targeted while Trump was President were generally his allies while those of his opponents who were corrupt or engaged in malfeasance were not persecuted in the same way.
  
  The CMA is alleged to have acted more like Trump’s opponents than like Trump. If they acted like Trump, their head would have sent out a tweet and then done nothing while their institutions actually went after anyone who criticised Koretzky. Weird.
6

Rick Gaspar on Feb 12, 2020 at 7:44 pm

Wow….as a committee chair who struggled to find willing presenters, and someone who specifically asked you to present, I am dumbfounded that you are a secret “CMA pariah.” Let’s enroll you in my 1-credit JOU class and ask SPLC to investigate.
- 7
  
  Anonymous on Feb 13, 2020 at 1:32 pm
  
  You are braver than I, Richard. By aligning with Mr. Koretzky so publicly, you might run afoul of the CMA board yourself. It doesn’t apparently take much to receive a death sentence. Certainly not evidence.
  - 8
    
    Anonymous on Feb 13, 2020 at 3:20 pm
    
    As a woman in CMA who hasn’t always agreed with the way Michael has presented himself, I am really floored by this drastic action. The CMA list serve has been oddly silent. There hasn’t been one comment while others discuss more mundane (but still important) issues at length. I admit I’m fearful of saying anything that could be misconstrued or worse, but I certainly would if I thought it would help.
9

Anonymous on Feb 13, 2020 at 10:30 am

Keep fighting the good fight, Koretzky!
10

Bort on Feb 14, 2020 at 7:06 am

Four months ago? So you got banned shortly after your “Diversity Bully” and “Code Dead” articles.

Oh but I’m sure this is all just coincidence, don’t listen to the paranoid nutter in the comments for the Code Dead article, he probably watches Alex Jones or something.
11

Sam on Nov 20, 2021 at 11:05 pm

Hope you are well. I remember you from the SPJ GamerGate discussion you helped organise and which gave some people a modicum of hope. It’s depressing how things have gotten so much worse in the last 6 years and that you have now been personally caught up in the madness.

Hope you are doing well.