NY Post editor must answer Murdoch, chimp queries

Source: Reuters

NY Post editor must answer Murdoch, chimp queries

By Jonathan Stempel
Tue Jul 3, 2012 7:21pm EDT

(Reuters) - The editor of the New York Post may be forced to answer questions about his discussions with media mogul Rupert Murdoch over fallout from the newspaper's publication of a cartoon that appeared to liken President Barack Obama to a chimpanzee.

A federal judge in Manhattan said editor Col Allan could not invoke "editorial privilege" and avoid answering questions posed by Sandra Guzman, a former associate editor suing the newspaper for alleged employment discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, gender and national origin.

Guzman, who is black and Puerto Rican, in November 2009 sued the Post and parent News Corp, which Murdoch runs, saying she had been fired in retaliation for complaints over inappropriate conduct.

She also claimed to be among those who objected to the February 18, 2009 cartoon that depicted a policeman shooting a crazed chimpanzee, a play on an actual Connecticut incident.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/03/us-newscorp-nypost-murdoch-cartoon-idUSBRE8621BC20120703