Ex-La Socialista Editor Hired By USC
We had no intention of writing one – let alone two – stories about Brad Warthen today, but such is life.
Fortunately, our shower works.
Anyway, Warthen – the former editorial page editor at La Socialista (a.k.a. The State) – has been rewarded for his many years of performing journalistic fellatio on the University of South Carolina with a sweet consulting contract at the school.
This story – which actually originated with an anonymous comment posted on an article here at FITS – prompted several calls of confirmation from former colleagues of Warthen’s at La Socialista.
More than a few of these sources told us that they feared La Socialista’s reputation for (cough) journalistic integrity would somehow be imperiled by Warthen’s hiring.
Really?
Like when the paper hired a former communications director to a Democratic Senatorial candidate as its higher ed “reporter?” Or when it hired the spouse of a public school teacher to “cover” public education?
Riiiight …
A University spokesman confirmed to FITS this evening that Warthen had been retained on a contract basis through June 30 and that more information would be available soon.
She was very nice about it, too, and we have no doubt she’ll give us all the specifics of the deal as soon as she has them.
In the meantime, a source who has spoken with Warthen said the contract is valued at “several thousand dollars a month,” which could mean USC has a real P.R. problem on its hands (one that, ironically, Warthen won’t be able to help them solve).
After all, the University has been bitching and moaning for months about its ever-escalating budget, going so far as to blast out a bunch of pro-bureaucratic bailout propaganda on its taxpayer-funded email network.
Hmmm …
And yet they’ve got enough money to hire some left-wing opinion writer?
Frankly, that’s the same song and dance we’re seeing from State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex – who is similarly bemoaning “budget cuts” while he’s paying political consultants with taxpayer money.
Anyway, stay tuned … we’ll have more on Warthen’s hiring tomorrow.
Comments
By Cock-a-doodle-barf on April 20th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
That would be enough to make me want to mutilate and mail back my degree(s).
By Hal on April 20th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
All hacks end up at the university or state government. Nice pay, no worky.
Sewwt
By Page on April 20th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Hal,
State government…nice pay? Really? What state?
By Pete on April 20th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I am surprised Jean Toal or Jim Rex didn’t hire Brad. He has had the goods on them for years and just kept on keeping his nose up in the air about it. Yeah, yeah, he and Cindi wrote a couple of articles about how the Supreme Court needed to open up and be more transparent, but there was no evisceration of Jean like Brad allowed Monk to do on McConnell.
By Todd on April 20th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Anybody else remember that audio telephone interview Brad did with Alex Sanders? How Brad was giddy that Alex would crack jokes with him about selecting judges in backrooms and how they ought to go back to that method? Alex should hire Brad.
By Hal on April 20th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
This state….look at the pay per catagory… And then look at 35.5 hours a week , retirement after 28 years! Not all jobs pay as much as others…but all in all, it is a damn good way to live. And retire and collect those checks for 20 or 30 years!
By BIN News Editorial Staff on April 21st, 2009 at 12:00 am
What cr@p.
$ic(k)willie has a perverted love-hate relationship with The State and Brad that makes Sigmund Freud twist his cigar three times and scratch his head.
Brad, keep it up.
Eventually $ic(k) willie will sit on his cigar out of frustration.
Anyone who p@ss@s off $ic(k) willie so much is a great American.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By Dan on April 21st, 2009 at 1:16 am
Brad has been promoting the university presidents/harrell-leatherman-mcconnell plan for years, pleading with the “tired masses” to let the university presidents drive the economoy. Message to Bobby Harrell: that is “let them eat cake.” Small retailers going out of buisnesses because their jobs arent’ good enough while you and your legislative comrades decide to give a bunch of tax money to the academic elites to start up businesses. while real businesses in this state are shut down. No wonder they hired Brad. Watch him promote the “knowledge-based” shell game. That’s his gig I bet.
By mark g on April 21st, 2009 at 2:22 am
Brad gained a lot of experience at a well-regarded newspaper. You can disagree with his perspective, but that’s the nature of what did at the newspaper– offer his opinion on controversial issues. So of course many would disagree.
Why would anyone begrudge him a new job? Or criticize an institution for hiring a guy with valuable experience and many good contacts?
And by the way, most people I know who work in state government are good decent folks. They try their best, and earn their pay.
Why so petty, people?
By Topher on April 21st, 2009 at 8:14 am
“Conservative” Judge Bruce Williams’ wife was on the USC dole for YEARS at a very high rate of pay, and you don’t seem to care about that at all.
By baker on April 21st, 2009 at 8:48 am
This would seem a natural and altogether appropriate hire. Brad Warthen, for whatever his faults may be, has had pretty impressive experience. He’s had the opportunity to interview candidates for President. He’s been one of the few journalists in the state who can probably get the Governor on the phone (is this true, Will?). He has had reporting and editorial writing experience. He’s published the work of many writers, including a former spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford. And, yes, he’s even ventured into the world of blogging and the “new media.” And, true enough, he’s now been laid off….so he can talk about the realities of the newspaper industry from that standpoint.
Pretty darn well-rounded experience for working with communications and journalism students.