Panelists detail how the press, govt failed Martin Tankleff
The Press Club of Long Island, the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, featured Rick Firstman and Robert Gottlieb on a panel to review the medias role in the case of Martin Tankleff. The event was held at Newsdays headquarters in Melville, NY. The goal of the evening was to answer the question,
Did the press help railroad an innocent man.
On Sept. 7, 1988, when 17-year-old Marty called 911 to alert the authorities that his mother, Arlene, had been brutally murdered and his dad, Seymour, was barely alive, little did he know he would be the prime suspect. Even though he and others repeatedly directed the police to Seymours business partner, Jerry Steuerman, James McCready, the detective on the case, was determined to convict Marty for this heinous crime. He succeeded.
For 17 years, Marty sat in jail for the death of both his parents (his dad later died) until he found a private detective, Jay Salpeter, who believed in him. Salpeter uncovered new evidence that ultimately led to a judge dropping the murder charges, and on December 28, 2007, Martin Tankleff became a free man.
The debate was on between the panel members who consisted of Firstman, author of A Criminal Injustice, a book which outlines the Martin Tankleff story from the night before the murders until when Salpeter commented at a press conference, Arlene and Seymour, its time now that you can finally rest in peace. Your son is home, and hes home to stay. Others on the panel included Doug Geed, a News 12 LI Anchor; Robert Gottlieb, Tankleffs defense attorney; and Bruce Lambert, a NY Times Reporter. The moderator was Bob Keeler, a member of Newsdays editorial board.
As each panelist took his turn it was clear that they felt that in some instances during the initial case the reporters did not do their jobs properly.
Firstman revealed, Like everyone else, I got this image of this psychotic temper tantrum spoiled rich kid who went nuts on his parents one day. When Salpeter came to me with new evidence I was astounded that an innocent man could have been convicted.
Gottlieb added, The media latched on to the story that was fed to them
from day one the press regurgitated what the DA and Detectives wanted you to regurgitate. The playing field was hardly level.
Law enforcement was using the media as their route to the public and the jury.
There should have been skepticism from the media, noted Lambert.
Now with the conviction being overturned, they all want this to go away, said Geed.
They are not big enough to say they jumped to a conclusion, added Gottlieb.
Tantalizing topics such as this are planned for the months ahead by PCLI, the local professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In addition to monthly programs and mixers, membership includes an annual (June 4, 2009) PCLI Media Awards dinner, which honors the best in local journalism, a fun Holiday Party showcasing the singing and witty talents of some of its members, a Media Guide listing all L.I. media and more.
The next PCLI program is The Future of Journalism on Long Island on February 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Newsdays lobby auditorium.
The Society of Professional Journalists is the nations largest and most broad-based journalism organization with 60 pro chapters and 250 student chapters totaling 8,700 members nationwide.
The mission of PCLI is to protect and advocate for First Amendment rights and to educate its members through programs such as these.
For more information about this program and to keep abreast of future programs, visit www.pcli.org or e-mail chapter president John C. OConnell at
John.PCLI@mac.com.