Oregonian Still Mum On Editor's Arrest

The Oregonian in Portland has yet to write anything about the arrest of Editorial Page Editor Robert Caldwell last month on a drunk driving charge, even after he pleaded no contest in court last week.

Willamette Week, the local alternative paper, reports today that the judge in the case found him guilty June 8, suspended his license for 90 days and ordered a year-long diversion program.

But his own newspaper has yet to report on the case, WW states. I find such a move surprising from Oregonian Editor Peter Bhatia, who was named an editor of the year a few years ago by my old bosses at Editor & Publisher and is considered one of the most respected editors in the country.

While at E&P, I wrote numerous stories about editors making sure their arrests were reported, including Janet Coats, former editor of The Tampa Tribune, who actually phoned her paper from jail to make sure they reported on her DWI arrest.

Bhatia has yet to respond to a request for comment or explanation.