Star Tribune stands by West series

by Tim McGuire, editor, Star Tribune

We do not make decisions about major investigative stories based on corporate self-interest

I do not like to respond to letters to the editor because I believe subjects of stories should have their day. However, I want to assure readers we do not make decisions about major investigative stories based on corporate self-interest. Comparing the West online system and the Star Tribune's online system is like comparing Cub Foods to Goodfellows Restaurant. The only thing they have in common is food. Star Tribune Online will serve the Twin Cities reader much as the newspaper does with news, entertainment and bulletin boards. It will run news stories about all areas of society and business but will not specialize in legal affairs. No other Cowles Media subsidiary will specialize in legal matters either. Cowles Business Media was not created for the purpose of starting an online service; it has existed for years as a trade magazine publisher. It is important to point out that the Star Tribune story has been picked up by scores of other news organizations, including the Washington Post, Newsday, the Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal. All of those newspapers have online systems. Surely we are not expected to believe that all of those organizations are trying to snuff out West's competition. We look forward to being in the online business and West will probably be a wonderful complement to our online service. We wish them the very best of luck, but none of that takes away from our excellent investigative piece about West and the judicial system.