By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 8:10 AM
Richard Callow is profiled in the August edition of St. Louis magazine. The mayoral advisor and public relations hired gun is described in the piece by former Post-Dispatch writer John Michael McGuire as "Machiavellian," "a snake," "creative," and enormously influential. Labels: Media_Watch
As much as the story is a tale of a remarkably manipulative (and therefore successful) PR operative, it is also a subtle indictment of the quality of St. Louis journalism and the perpetually sleeping watch dog that not only ignores the corruption and obvious conflicts of interest that sit under its nose like a steamy pile of poo, but whose own laziness has made it dependent on the burglar's treats.
Callow's "relationship" with his live-in whatever, Barb Geisman, the City's deputy mayor of development, is something that we and others have pointed to as a clear and ongoing conflict of interest that has cost taxpayers millions.
But McGuire also does a good job of outlining his friendships with a string of shady reporters: Jerry Berger (former Post gossiper), Mike Owens (Channel 5); Jamie Allman (formerly of Channel 4); and Jeff Rainford (Mayor Slay's chief of staff who as a reporter for Channel 4 was once involved in a botched "sting" to catch an Illinois priest with a male prostitute).
"He is like the St. Louis managing editor," one observer is quoted saying. "Most publicists work to place stories. He works to kill them," said another.
Never one to hate the player, we think that Callow's been in St. Louis 15 years -- longer than any other place he's ever been -- probably because its just so frickin' easy here. The quality of St. Louis television and print journalism is atrocious.
The greatest obstacle a corrupt public official or businessman must encounter while robbing the public trust is stepping over all the sleeping watch dogs on his way out.
Related Stories:
Callow + Geisman = Conflict
7 Comments:
A few years ago, the Riverfront Times carried a story by G. Dreiling discussing Callow's having been hired by the lead industry. In a city with one of the nation's highest rates of lead poisoning, it is disappointing that the Mayor's Office has such intimate ties to him.
If the Mayor's Office really cares so much about kids...
7/26/2006 8:23 AM
A+, bravo, encore!
The quality of St. Louis print and T.V. media is horrible. Rather than report obvious instances of corruption and controversy, as PubDef outlines, they report shocking cases of car crashes, double homicides, assaults with dead puppies, and the occasional relevant story such as the Voter ID Bill... which has already been covered a week previously by online bloggers.
Rarely does the St. Louis Post Dispatch actually focus on St. Louis, rather they focus on common suburban "stories." I suppose soccer moms would prefer to read fluff instead of relevant news. Perhaps their idealistic picket fence lifestyle would be shattered if they realized the entire metro area is not rosy and peachy. Sure, they see the "rampant shooting, and gang wars" on the news, which makes them feel very lucky, and safe, but the real criminals are not carrying guns.
The River Front Times has the occasional story of Cave Exploration, or the local Jazz Scene, which is cool, but these papers, especially the liberal "radical" ones, should be a thorn in the side of the elite.
Honestly, I find the utility of print media decreasing every day. Besides, I feel better saving a tree, and reading blogs.
7/26/2006 8:54 AM
Is that a real photo of Callow?
7/26/2006 10:14 AM
Michael, yes that's a childhood photo from the St. Louis Magazine article. Priceless.
Brian, read the "related story."
7/26/2006 11:08 AM
Okay, saw the article. Not bad. St. Louis Magazine actually does great reporting and if their readership demographic were different would probably publish stories like this one all of the time.
7/27/2006 9:26 AM
Good job Antonio! This is a story that needs to be told.
7/28/2006 10:44 PM
Congrats on scooping Sunday's Post on its front page story. Oh wait, that's a pic of the execution doc, not Slay's brain.
7/31/2006 8:42 AM
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