Chances are you've been reading about a little flap involving our Creative Loafing sister publication, the Washington City Paper. Seems that back in November, CP staff writer Dave McKenna had the temerity to itemize, in alphabetical order, in a cover story, the many questionable doings of one Dan Snyder, the very rich and, as it turns out, very thin-skinned owner of the Washington Redskins.
McKenna's story is hilarious, solidly reported — and now, Mr. Snyder has decided three months later, worthy of a lawsuit. The Washington Post, the Huffington Post, the New York Times and many other estimable media outfits are collectively hooting about what a pile of steaming crap this lawsuit is, but $2 million is $2 million. And while City Paper is confident that it has expert enough lawyers and more than enough insurance to defend against the suit, CP publisher Amy Austin has taken the extra step — more symbolic than financial, and responding to readers who wanted to know how they could help — of setting up a legal defense fund.
Please give — but only if you like the idea of a free alternative press standing up to rich bullies who think that by throwing their money around they can intimidate reporters into remaining silent.
Fat chance, fat cats.
This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2011.