bearway, Jenks (1/21/2009 6:24:25 AM)

How shameful. I'm Thinking Mr Bates has poked someone's sacred cow.

Come on TW, drop the suit against Mr Bates as well. Now that you have released the information previously kept secret, we know what your auditors say about your numbers.

I'm sure the TW has NEVER said anything false about anyone and left it uncorrected. Righth?

@HomeInTulsa, (1/21/2009 6:29:57 AM)

You know it bearway! Only the Golden Truth is written at the TW. They have the monopoly on truth.

Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (1/21/2009 6:47:49 AM)

Is the Tulsa World a publication of record? The Daily Oklahoman is not but it does publish a paper of record called The Times. It publishes legal notices. Cities, counties, state, and federal governments use it for official notices. They records must be absolutely pure and true. Things like circulation numbers must be exact and true or legal notices could be invalidated. Can you imagine building permits and bar licenses being revoked several years after they open? So this is a very serious matter and if it does wind up being libel, well someone had better check their personal liability policy and look for the upper limit to be pegged very quick. They should cancel their summer vacation plans, look at their kids going to TCC, and start checking out mobile home lots.

Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (1/21/2009 6:49:57 AM)

I apologize, its called The Journal Record. It was the Times when they bought it but changed the name.

Webmeister, (1/21/2009 7:27:28 AM)

The Tulsa World wants to gag civic activist and their long-time antagonist Michael Bates.

I don't think they like his term: The Tulsa Whirled.....

like in always spinning....

The Kaiser River Tax II campaign must be ramping up for another go in the shadows........

droopy, wagoner (1/21/2009 7:34:58 AM)

If you guys have such a sour view of TW, why don't you go to another paper. I read the TW because I enjoy and trust it.

Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (1/21/2009 7:38:15 AM)

I never understood why UT keeps Bates on. His columns are agonizing to read, he's preachy, he lacks objectivity, and his political views seem out of sync with the rest of the paper. I could see them giving him a smaller space for the sake of balance, but when you read UT you're confronted with several pages of his garbage. He seems to have proclaimed himself an authority on what all Tulsans want.

jaenosjelantru, Tulsa (1/21/2009 8:24:11 AM)

Michael Bates is an incredible journalist who apparently made a mistake. Suing someone for this is ridiculous. They won't be able to prove his intent in court. They are simply strong arming a competitor for the sake of protecting their image. Good for them for trying to protect themselves, bad form in suing.

HardHeartedHanna, (1/21/2009 8:25:21 AM)

Dr. Strangelove, I admire you for being able to perfectly describe the Bates/UT relationship and Bate's part in it. Excellent.

Bates is a remnant of that Medlock/DelGiorno/Westcott aliance that was formed back in the day in order to disrupt and attempt to influence our electoral and city council process. Perhaps it is unfortunate that the must be sued back to civility, but that is what happens when you just sit out there spewing hate.

More unfortunately, the UT will probably just disappear if they are forced to comply with legitimate reporting and editorial analysis. Surely we can find the 'massage' parlor contact information from other sources.

Good on ya TW, shut them down.

Graychin, Eucha (1/21/2009 8:34:56 AM)

Doc: Michael Bates "lacks objectivity"? What a shocking statement! Michael will be SO offended!

Someone pointed out here the other day that Tulsa, Oklahoma is probably the only city in America with an "alternative" newspaper with a far-right-wing political slant. It's jarring to see the preachy anti-public school commentary each week printed on the same sheet of newsprint as the massage and "dating" service ads.

jaenosjelantru, Tulsa (1/21/2009 8:55:25 AM)

Terribly shocking indeed!

An opinion/editorial writer not being objective... lol

lil sparrow, Midwest Flyway (1/21/2009 9:01:55 AM)

Very well said, Dr.

HardHeartedHanna, (1/21/2009 9:06:36 AM)

Old Typro, I understand the defense fund is being collected at Night Trips. It is very easy, girls will actually come to you with jars for said collection. Give til it hurts.

Maybe the UT can steal Mike Jones away from the TW.

jhill, Tulsa (1/21/2009 9:07:28 AM)

If TW ignores Bates' statements accusing them of lying about circulation figures and lets them go unchallenged, I expect TW would have to do some explaining to its advertisers.

If Bates' accusations are untrue, then TW MUST challenge them.

OPEN YOUR EYES TULSA, Tulsa (1/21/2009 9:17:07 AM)

I like Urban Tulsa better anyway. Too bad it is not a daily paper so TW would have some competition. The only reason I read the Tulsa World is because they have a monopoly on a daily paper in Tulsa. I don't like how they are so obviously left wing promoters rather than objective news people. They are also too comfy with the mayor. Be careful who you sue, karma may come back to haunt you.

Sir Coris Markus, Armpit, USA (1/21/2009 9:17:52 AM)

Nice article.. sells papers!

seymore1965, Tulsa (1/21/2009 9:28:16 AM)

Reading some comments I wonder how the earth revolves at all with what's going on in some people's heads.

Ignatz, Broken Bow (1/21/2009 9:33:48 AM)

Amen, Seymore...constantly accusing a Republican rag like the TW of being "liberal" just tells you how far to the right so many commenters are...way over near the skinhead/Tim McVeigh wing of the Repub Party. I don't read Bates and stopped reading anything in the UT when Mr. Myxzezptlk started his right wing rants. These two rags deserve each other.

QLC, (1/21/2009 9:43:25 AM)

Does nobody think that Bates didn't have a chance to apologize and be let out of the suit?

So Bates, it is time to put up or shut up! Let's see your figures and support.

Bobby P., Tulsa (1/21/2009 9:43:37 AM)

From the Tulsa World story: "Lorton said the World's attorney contacted Skrzypczak after the paper appeared on newsstands Jan. 14. Lorton said the World provided Urban Tulsa with the circulation audits in question."

WOW! MICHAEL BATES IS SUCH A LIAR! He's been claiming all along that nobody from the World contacted ANYONE before filing the lawsuit. Man, Bates is in trouble. Big trouble.

Tulsa World Staff Writer Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa (1/21/2009 10:10:22 AM)

Clarification: The Journal Record in Oklahoma City is not now and has never been owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Co. -- The Oklahoman, in other words. The Oklahoma City Times was the Oklahoman's evening sister paper and ceased publication many years ago. I know because I once worked for it.

TonyQ, Tulsa (1/21/2009 10:21:19 AM)

Don't newspapers usually fight libel accusations tooth and nail? Urban Tulsa should let it go through, force the TW to reveal their circulation numbers through discovery. I'm sure the TW would love to have to do that.

truth police, NO ZIP RECORD (1/21/2009 10:35:14 AM)

From today's Urban Tulsa:

January 19, 2009

Dear Readers:

We would like to provide some additional information regarding the column "Tulsa Whirrled"
written by Michael D. Bates that appeared in the January 15-21,2009 edition of the Urban Tulsa
Weekly.

Prior to publication we reviewed the column, but did not contact the Tulsa World to confirm the
information about the Tulsa World's circulation in Michael D. Bates' column. After being sued
by the Tulsa World for defamation, we sat down with the Tulsa World and discussed their
concerns about the statements in Mr. Bates' column. We now understand that information in
Michael D. Bates' column about the Tulsa World's circulation numbers and audits was incorrect.

The Tulsa World has provided its audit information, which shows that its circulation numbers were not inflated as suggested by the column and its percentages have been consistent with those of other major daily newspapers in the United States. Further, Urban Tulsa Weekly has no
reason to suspect or suggest that the Tulsa World's circulation figures were inflated. We regret and retract that suggestion.

Lastly, Michael D. Bates' column incorrectly stated that the Tulsa World was not audited by the
Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) for almost a decade when in fact that statement was not true"
The Tulsa World circulation was audited by ABC until 2001. We also regret any questions that
the column raised regarding the authenticity of the Tulsa World's circulation audits or their
reasons for selecting an auditing company other than the ABC. Grant Thornton, LLP, the private
auditing firm selected and used by the Tulsa World for a period of years, is a well known and
highly respected auditing firm. Urban Tulsa Weekly has no reason to question its auditing
practices.

In this case, we now understand the legitimate concerns of the Tulsa World and appreciate the
chance to sit down with its representatives, review their information and correct the record.

Sincerely,

Keith Skrzypczak
Editor and Publisher
Urban Tulsa Weekly

Bobby P., Tulsa (1/21/2009 10:40:09 AM)

THANK YOU TRUTH POLICE.

The Urban Tulsa RETRACTED its story. That's so rare for ANY newspaper to do, it's nearly unheard of.

Way to fight, Tulsa World. Don't tolerate willful incompetence/libel!

imahick, tulsa (1/21/2009 10:41:07 AM)

hey anative tulsan,

freedom of speech here on the tw forums??
RIGHT!!!!
they leave up what they want to let be read and remove that which they don't....
we all know that!

of course it is their forum and we are bound by their rules, but never think we get to play any other way....

and i went to night trips last night...
i wasn't looking for any of the JUGS pertaining to michael bates!