Pat Robertson Says He Is Looking into Bid for The Virginian-Pilot

This area has enough problems in getting decent news coverage and reporting. Hence, Pat Robertson's statement (http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/pat-robertson-says-his-attorneys-are-looking-bid-virginianpilot) that he is looking at possibly buying the Virginian Pilot - Norfolk's only news paper - has not exactly made many folks too happy. It is bad enough having loopy Pat as a neighbor much less controlling a big segment of the local news media. I definitely hope it does not come to pass. Would that I could figure out a way to move from this area. Note how Robertson sees the purchase a place for Regent journalism students to work. I shudder to image what types of stories they would write. Not surprisingly, the comments posted on the article by current subscribers are not flattering towards Pat Robertson. Here are some story highlights:

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, who has sharply criticized The Virginian-Pilot in the past, is considering making a bid to buy the newspaper, an associate said Thursday. Landmark Communications Inc., a Norfolk-based media company, announced last week that it was evaluating whether to sell all of its assets, including The Weather Channel and The Pilot.

"Although the price for The Weather Channel is a little rich for my blood, I am considering a potential bid for the Pilot and have asked my attorneys to look into it," Robertson said in an e-mail forwarded by his personal assistant, G.G. Conklin. "It would be particularly helpful to provide internships for Regent University journalism students." In a subsequent e-mail, Conklin confirmed his interest. Robertson, she said, "has no further comments to offer at this time." Robertson is the first investor to announce that he might seek to acquire The Pilot.

Robertson has objected to articles in The Pilot that he has said unfairly characterized his pursuits. Most recently, an article last month said Regent's counseling program has experienced an exodus of nearly half of its faculty members. Students, the article said, have been punished for voicing concerns.

Here's the type of stuff Robertson says (and most likely believes):

"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians."