Small thread: Once, after I published a book about the drug war, I was heralded in a local Howard County, Md. newspaper headline as an “ex-addict” who had told tales of his life on a drug corner. The local sheet was owned by my alma mater, The Baltimore Sun.... https://twitter.com/iamwesmoore/status/1340092262605271041

I called the editor, explained that I was not a victim of substance abuse nor had ever been and would they kindly retract the headline and send $10,000 to a rec & parks program in Baltimore. The editor consulted with my former bosses downtown...

Retract, they were advised, but pay no money. Simon, they reasoned, was in the business and wouldn’t sue a newspaper, especially one that he had just left on a buyout. They were almost correct except for three things:

1. I wasn’t staying in journalism, it seemed, I had gone to work as an independent author and on the staff of an NBC drama.
2. I was asking for a charity donation only. Charities rank newspapers in any hierarchy of righteousness.
3. My last bosses were assholes. Ergo, buyout.

So I got a lawyer, pro bono, to fire a letter at the Columbia Flyer saying the offer was now $20,000 to the charity and if the check wasn’t cut and delivered by end of week it went to $40,000. Check was prompt.

Have fun with it, Wes. Have fun.