The Associated Press
Aug 22, 2006 3:32 PM (15 days ago)
Current rank: Not ranked

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and investigative reporter Carolyn Tuft will go into arbitration Wednesday over a dispute that resulted in her suspension last year.

Dozens of Post-Dispatch reporters, members of the St. Louis Newspaper Guild and others rallied Tuesday outside the newspaper in support of Tuft, 47. Last year, more than 130 staffers protested her treatment.

Tuft, a 14-year investigative reporter at the newspaper, was disciplined for stories last year on the Fenton, Mo.-based Joyce Meyer Ministries, the organization's wealth, and principals voting on their own salaries and perks.

The ministry contended the articles had inaccuracies, but Tuft stood by them. In June 2005, the Post-Dispatch wrote a letter of apology to readers, then suspended Tuft without pay for five days. It later was shortened to two.

Editor Arnie Robbins said the Post-Dispatch does support its reporters, but that the two stories had some problems.

"It's really about our readers," Robbins said. "It's not a First Amendment issue. It's about fairness in stories."

He said the newspaper "wants to create an environment for Carolyn Tuft to succeed, and I think she has this year."

Guild representative Shannon Duffy said Tuft's team will prove the paper's apology was a negotiated settlement to escape litigation by the ministry. Tuft wants the paper to retract the apology and pay her for the two days she was suspended.

Tuft said Tuesday she's always believed that a free press is the foundation of democracy, adding "that wasn't the case in this particular instance."