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CNN Live Today
Interview With Lena Williams
Aired June 05, 2003 - 11:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, we want to get back to the top story that we have this hour, this breaking story coming to us out of New York, the story of Executive Editor Howell Raines stepping down from his post at "The New York Times." Also stepping down from his post as managing editor if Gerald Boyd.
We want to talk now and get some reaction to this news from Lena Williams who is with "The New York Times" union there at "The New York Times." Lena is joining us now on the telephone - Lena, are you there?
LENA WILLIAMS, NEWSPAPER GUILD OF NEW YORK: Yes, I am, Leon.
HARRIS: And just for clarification, which union is it that you're with?
WILLIAMS: This is the Newspaper Guild of New York.
HARRIS: All right, the Newspaper Guild of New York.
What is your reaction to this news this morning?
WILLIAMS: Well, I'm reacting, Leon, as both not only the union chairperson but also a reporter at "The New York Times," having been at the paper for 29 years and I think I can speak for not only myself but my colleagues that this is a very sad day for "The New York Times."
I think we talked about the fact that what happened with the Jayson Blair case and the expose that we ran on May the 10th was a low point in our 152-year history.
This has got to be parallel to that to see that in the wake of what I believe is the Jayson Blair affair, that not only the executive editor, but the managing editor, two top journalists in this country have had to step down is not something that you're going to see anybody at "The New York Times" dancing in the aisles over.
It's a very sad day, not only for "The Times," but I think for journalists across the country.
HARRIS: Was this expected?
WILLIAMS: I think there's this speculation about this since we had our town hall meeting. As I said, I've been there for 29 years and I thought something may happen but I never thought this would be the other shoe that would drop. There may have been those who expected it, but even when it came, it's still a shock to some of us.
HARRIS: What is this likely to do then for morale there? I have heard plenty of talk about people there in New York about just how acid the atmosphere there had gotten.
A lot of people had been blanching at the management style of Howell Raines and, of course, the wake of this Jayson Blair scandal also had wreaked havoc there on the morale in the newsroom. What is this likely to do?
WILLIAMS: Well, let's hope if morale - let's hope this raises morale. You know it's unfortunate that two people had to "lose their jobs" in order for morale at our paper to be raised, but I think if anything is going to help, the fact that from what I understand Joe Lelyveld is going to come back on a temporary basis or interim basis.
Joe Lelyveld is someone the people know, they respect, they know his style. It's a far more laid back style perhaps and I think that's what some people appreciate. So, if anything, I think that's helping people get through this difficult moment.
HARRIS: And just for those who are wondering, Mr. Lelyveld retired from "The New York Times" back in 2001. He served as executive editor there for seven years. So, I understand what you mean, Ms. Williams, when you say that he will be a familiar figure there to those in the newspaper.
Were you there in the newsroom when Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the publisher, had his meeting and announced that this was going to happen this morning?
WILLIAMS: No, I did not because we are also in the midst of contract negotiations, so I'm trying to negotiate a contract while all of this is going on and, of course, they picked up the phone and told us right away what had happened and even though some people may have anticipated, as I said, it was still a shock.
I have known both Howell and Gerald Boyd for several years, and in knowing that, I see them not only as my -- quote -- "bosses," but also as mentors and as colleagues. And once again, it's something that you're not going to be happy to see a colleague have to go through this, and the result being them having to step down.
HARRIS: And it has also been said that Gerald Boyd was something of a mentor or protector for Jayson Blair. Do you know that to be the case? Do you expect that that is a reason why he also stepped down?
WILLIAMS: I think Gerald probably felt that if Howell was going to step down, that there was no way that the executive editor could step down and he could remain in his job and feel that he would have the support and the confidence of the staff.
I think it was a vote of no confidence, not only as it applied to the executive editor but also the managing editor. In terms of mentors for Jayson Blair, Jayson Blair had a lot of -- quote -- "mentors." I considered myself one of his mentors, and he considered himself one of my proteges. Whether that helps him or hurt him, I don't know for sure, but Jayson Blair adopted a lot of people at "The New York Times," and as we have now found out, some of those people were his mentors, some of those people were just older colleagues who would do the same for Jayson Blair as they would, including yours truly, for any younger staff member.
HARRIS: That makes me think you must really have some very mixed emotions at what has happened this morning, then.
WILLIAMS: Very -- very, very much so.
HARRIS: Very interesting. Lena Williams, thank you for taking time to talk with us today on this very important and very troubling day for your newspaper. We wish you the best of luck down the road. It is going to be a rough road for some time now for the employees at the "New York Times" in the wake of the announcement this morning of the resignation of executive editor Howell Raines.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 5, 2003 - 11:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, we want to get back to the top story that we have this hour, this breaking story coming to us out of New York, the story of Executive Editor Howell Raines stepping down from his post at "The New York Times." Also stepping down from his post as managing editor if Gerald Boyd.
We want to talk now and get some reaction to this news from Lena Williams who is with "The New York Times" union there at "The New York Times." Lena is joining us now on the telephone - Lena, are you there?
LENA WILLIAMS, NEWSPAPER GUILD OF NEW YORK: Yes, I am, Leon.
HARRIS: And just for clarification, which union is it that you're with?
WILLIAMS: This is the Newspaper Guild of New York.
HARRIS: All right, the Newspaper Guild of New York.
What is your reaction to this news this morning?
WILLIAMS: Well, I'm reacting, Leon, as both not only the union chairperson but also a reporter at "The New York Times," having been at the paper for 29 years and I think I can speak for not only myself but my colleagues that this is a very sad day for "The New York Times."
I think we talked about the fact that what happened with the Jayson Blair case and the expose that we ran on May the 10th was a low point in our 152-year history.
This has got to be parallel to that to see that in the wake of what I believe is the Jayson Blair affair, that not only the executive editor, but the managing editor, two top journalists in this country have had to step down is not something that you're going to see anybody at "The New York Times" dancing in the aisles over.
It's a very sad day, not only for "The Times," but I think for journalists across the country.
HARRIS: Was this expected?
WILLIAMS: I think there's this speculation about this since we had our town hall meeting. As I said, I've been there for 29 years and I thought something may happen but I never thought this would be the other shoe that would drop. There may have been those who expected it, but even when it came, it's still a shock to some of us.
HARRIS: What is this likely to do then for morale there? I have heard plenty of talk about people there in New York about just how acid the atmosphere there had gotten.
A lot of people had been blanching at the management style of Howell Raines and, of course, the wake of this Jayson Blair scandal also had wreaked havoc there on the morale in the newsroom. What is this likely to do?
WILLIAMS: Well, let's hope if morale - let's hope this raises morale. You know it's unfortunate that two people had to "lose their jobs" in order for morale at our paper to be raised, but I think if anything is going to help, the fact that from what I understand Joe Lelyveld is going to come back on a temporary basis or interim basis.
Joe Lelyveld is someone the people know, they respect, they know his style. It's a far more laid back style perhaps and I think that's what some people appreciate. So, if anything, I think that's helping people get through this difficult moment.
HARRIS: And just for those who are wondering, Mr. Lelyveld retired from "The New York Times" back in 2001. He served as executive editor there for seven years. So, I understand what you mean, Ms. Williams, when you say that he will be a familiar figure there to those in the newspaper.
Were you there in the newsroom when Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the publisher, had his meeting and announced that this was going to happen this morning?
WILLIAMS: No, I did not because we are also in the midst of contract negotiations, so I'm trying to negotiate a contract while all of this is going on and, of course, they picked up the phone and told us right away what had happened and even though some people may have anticipated, as I said, it was still a shock.
I have known both Howell and Gerald Boyd for several years, and in knowing that, I see them not only as my -- quote -- "bosses," but also as mentors and as colleagues. And once again, it's something that you're not going to be happy to see a colleague have to go through this, and the result being them having to step down.
HARRIS: And it has also been said that Gerald Boyd was something of a mentor or protector for Jayson Blair. Do you know that to be the case? Do you expect that that is a reason why he also stepped down?
WILLIAMS: I think Gerald probably felt that if Howell was going to step down, that there was no way that the executive editor could step down and he could remain in his job and feel that he would have the support and the confidence of the staff.
I think it was a vote of no confidence, not only as it applied to the executive editor but also the managing editor. In terms of mentors for Jayson Blair, Jayson Blair had a lot of -- quote -- "mentors." I considered myself one of his mentors, and he considered himself one of my proteges. Whether that helps him or hurt him, I don't know for sure, but Jayson Blair adopted a lot of people at "The New York Times," and as we have now found out, some of those people were his mentors, some of those people were just older colleagues who would do the same for Jayson Blair as they would, including yours truly, for any younger staff member.
HARRIS: That makes me think you must really have some very mixed emotions at what has happened this morning, then.
WILLIAMS: Very -- very, very much so.
HARRIS: Very interesting. Lena Williams, thank you for taking time to talk with us today on this very important and very troubling day for your newspaper. We wish you the best of luck down the road. It is going to be a rough road for some time now for the employees at the "New York Times" in the wake of the announcement this morning of the resignation of executive editor Howell Raines.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
