Leaked docs show Motorcyclist caved to advertiser pressure, fired editor

A series of email exchanges published earlier today by MC24.no appear to
indicate that Motorcyclist fired Dexter Ford, a contributing editor who
had been with the magazine for three decades, after a story he wrote
for The New York Times angered the magazine’s advertisers.

The emails, which Ford confirmed for us are the real thing, include an apparent
assertion by Motorcyclist editor-in-chief Brian Catterson that major
helmet makers threatened to withdraw advertising in his magazine due to
Ford’s New York Times piece. That same email then quotes Catterson as
saying, “Iʼm getting serious heat over this, to the tune of threatening
my job unless I do something about you.” (September 30, 2009 at 4:21 PM)

If true, the emails raise troubling questions about a potentially
unethical relationship between advertising dollars and editorial content
at the popular magazine, one that stretches beyond mere motorcycle
reviews and appears to include reporting on the safety of children’s
helmets.

Update: Arai has issued a response to this article. You’ll find it here.
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