Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1999 23:10:46 -0500 (EST)
Commenting on: http://www.ufomind.com/people/k/krapf/index.shtml
From: Phillip H. Krapf <phkrapf@earthlink.com>

Good morning,

In a review of my book, The Contact Has Begun, you have a link to  a comment upon my
credentials as a journalist which calls into question my veracity about my professional
background. The comment denies that I was ever a line editor, editorial writer, or reporter for
the Times. I have never claimed that I held any of those positions at the Times. The denial
gives the reader the impression that I lied about my credentials.

In About the Author, the book clearly states that I worked in the newspaper business for 30
years. The first five years of my career were spent at a small community newspaper in San
Fernando, CA, where I started as a photographer and reporter. After several years I was
promoted to the position of managing editor. I wrote editorials at the paper in the capacity as
the managing editor. While there, I won several writing awards for news, features, and
editorials from the San Fernando Valley Press Club.

I then went to the Los Angeles Times where, the book clearly states,  I spent the next 25 years
on the Metro copy desk as a copy editor.

The person who contributed this erroneous report first sets me up as a straw man by claiming
that I made statements that I clearly did not make. Then the contributor knocks down this straw
man by challenging the claims that I did not make. The contributor made those questionable
statements, not I. The contributor is recklessly attempting to smear me by falsely attributing
to me statements that I did not make. If the contributor is not engaged in a deliberate attempt
to slander me, then it appears, if his comments were an honest mistake, he should work on his
reading skills. I don't expect the general public to be familiar with the Canons of Journalism,
but one of the first rules of good journalism is to get your facts straight before you rush
into publication with them.

I have been very diligent in explaining in interviews and public talks that I was a reporter,
photographer, managing editor, and editorial writer at the small community newspaper and that I
spent my entire Times career of 25 years as a copy editor.

I would appreciate it if you would set the record straight. You might also want to show a bit
more caution when posting material that, if not true, could damage innocent people.

Thank you very much.

Phil Krapf