If you’re looking for reassurance that Republican billionaire Phil Anschutz is not injecting conservatism into the news coverage at his Gazette newspapers in Colorado, don’t read recent comments by Gazette Executive Editor Vince Bzdek, including Bzdek’s statement that Anschutz “kind of gets the idea that the more the newspaper is independent of him and his investments and businesses, the better.”
You might have been reassured if Bzdek had clarified his thoughts, but I emailed him the questions below three times over the past week and left a voicemail yesterday, and have nothing to share with you. Longtime editorial page editor Wayne Laugesen also didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Bzdek is a ballyhood former Washington Post journalist who has the respect of many journalists in Colorado. He shouldn’t be scared to talk to someone like me, who self-identifies as a weakling and has a track record of quoting people accurately (despite regrettable errors). Bzdek goes on right-wing radio, after all. Maybe he sees the questions below as somehow overly aggressive? If so, he could say so.
In any case, Anschutz owns an expanding — and apparently stable — media empire (Colorado Springs Gazette, Colorado Politics, Denver Gazette) in Colorado at a time when most other news outlets here (from the Denver Post to 9News to Colorado Public Radio and beyond) look shaky, especially in the long term.
There are a billion reasons to be worried that, over time, news outlets will fade away in Colorado and Anschutz will increasingly use his consolidated media power to undermine progressives here. So questions about Anschutz are legitimate.
Here are my questions for Bzdek, which I first emailed to him last Tuesday. They relate to comments Bzdek made July 15 on a panel at the Ent Center for the Arts at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Hi Vince —
I hope all’s well.
I read Corey Hutchins’ report on your recent comments about Phil Anschutz, and I’m hoping you can take time to answer a few follow-up questions.
Here’s what Corey wrote:
Bzdek said he rarely ever sees his paper’s owner, the conservative Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz. “He likes to check in and see how we’re doing, but he has a lot bigger businesses than ours,” he said. “And it’s really kind of a stupid investment for him to invest in newspapers. So he does that because — and said this to me — ‘Well, I want Colorado Springs to be a very vibrant, good town, and I think a good newspaper helps that.’” He said Anschutz “very much sticks to the editorial page, so I’m lucky in that sense.” He said if there was any effort to sway what he does, then he would leave. “Our owner does influence the editorial page,” he said. “And that seems to be where he seems to want to have his influence.” Bzdek said Anschutz “kind of gets the idea that the more the newspaper is independent of him and his investments and businesses, the better.”
You say Anschutz “kind of gets the idea that the more the newspaper is independent of him and his investments and businesses, the better.” What do you mean by “kind of?” What does he not understand about the independence of the newspaper?
Your use of the phrase “kind of gets the idea” implies that he does pressure you in some form? If so, what does this look like?
Will you give me an example or two of instances when he tried to influence you and you held your ground?
You say you rarely see Anschutz. Do you talk to him more often? Or perhaps you communicate with him more often via text or email or something?
Does he try to sway you via his publisher, Chris Reen, other Clarity Media managers, or via anyone else, like his son? [Christian Anschutz is co-owner and vice-chair of the Gazette papers, and sits on their editorial boards]
Your comment that the editorial page “seems to be where he seems to want to have his influence” is not a definitive statement, leaving me wondering if he wants to have wider influence at the paper. Will you say categorically that Anschutz and his associates do not influence you and/or the news gathering that you oversee? Did ownership issues play into the decision not to cover the indictment of former Anschutz Entertainment Group executive Tim Leiweke?
You’ve said previously that you’d leave if Anschutz tried to sway what you do, but there’s credible evidence that his associate – likely directed by Anschutz — did successfully pressure you to interfere on at least one story, and you did not leave. You’ve said you won’t comment on that instance, but why should we believe that you’d leave if you won’t comment on that story?
On one hand, you downplay Anschutz’s involvement at the newspaper overall by saying he has “a lot bigger businesses than ours.” But then you say Anschutz does “influence the editorial page” and “very much sticks to the editorial page, so I’m lucky in that sense.” So, is it fair to say that, despite his other businesses, he’s actively involved in influencing the editorial page? Can you give me more details on what his influence on the editorial page looks like?
Thanks for taking time to respond to these questions. I’m hoping to write a piece on Wednesday, but if you’d like to respond and need more time, I’ll wait as long as you want.
Please let me know either way.
Thank you.
Jason Salzman
Editor
Colorado Times Recorder
Erik Maulbetsch contributed to this story.
