UPDATE

A HIGHLY POLITE

STEVE WARREN

RETURNED OUR PHONE

CALL REGARDING

THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY/BILL LeCONEY

MATTER ...

HOWEVER, HIS ONLY COMMENT

WAS "NO COMMENT"

The Press of Atlantic City Assistant Editor, Steve Warren returned my call regarding the Mike Ashmore/Atlantic City Press/Bill LeConey matter at 4:23 p.m. today ... I advised Steve that I was working on a story involving Bill LeConey and could he comment ... Mr. Warren politely said,"No I can not comment" ... I asked Mr. Warren if he could at least tell me if Bill LeConey was still employed by The Press of Atlantic City ... Again, Mr. Warren stated politely, "No I can not" ...

We politely concluded the phone call at this point ...

At one level, I certainly understand an Editor's reluctance to discuss any personnel matter ... However, it seems quite enevitable that The Press of Atlantic City will have to comment on this matter at some point in the very near future ...

Don't be surprised if you see a rare (The Press Editor) Paul Merkoski column, explaining what happened here ...

The public must be advised as to whether there is a "Jayson Blair" situation ... or, perhaps some other explanation is warranted ...