Marie Gale (rewind)
MarkEbner59
son Philip's suicide, she immediately did her research on me, finding my
original Spy magazine expose --
http://www.drasticmedia.com/Scientology.html
Understandably, she was reticent about me interviewing her, but I insisted that
the story was to be about her son, his life and tragic suicide. In e-mails and
phone conversations I made it clear that the story was not to be about
Scientology per se, except where it applied in terms of Philip's background. I
argued that I was going ahead with the story, with or without her, and
ultimately she agreed to a face-to-face interview, the results of which can be
found in my story, Death of a 'Nethead -
http://www.drasticmedia.com/Nethead.html
Judge the story as you will, but understand that it almost never saw the
published page, mainly because, although Marie Gale agreed not to "report" me
to Scientology, in the end, she did. She went directly to her "old friend"
Heber Jentszch, who, in cooperation with OSA, proceeded to "dead agent" me with
Rolling Stone. They sent the requisite DA pack on to my publisher along with a
letter that aligned me with "known criminals [like Garry Scarff]" Oddly, I
believe I had met Garry maybe once before, but I certainly did not know him
other than by sight.
I was prepared for the DA-ing once I discovered that Marie Gale had lied to me,
but it wasn't all her fault. In the course of my reporting, I had made every
effort to contact Philip's long-time friend and employer, Sky Dayton of
Earthlink. Philip's friend Sky did not respond to my queries, but who knows
what back-channel efforts to quash the story came from him?
Again, all this pressure from Scientology came as no surprise, but Rolling
Stone's response to it was what I found particularly troubling. Still reeling
from an emerging plagiarism brouhaha, I could understand that R/S might have
reservations regarding what might have appeared as a conflict of interest given
my vocal anti-Scientology stance dating back to the Spy story and discovering
ARS in '95. Still, I maintained that the story was clearly about Philip, and I
was simply reporting facts about Scientology as it pertained to his life.
Meantime, the draft of the story had been filed with Rolling Stone had been
filed and I understood it was still slated to run in the "college issue" of the
magazine. But after weeks of the silent treatment by my editors, I realized
they were buckling under pressure from Scientology. My editor actually asked
me to respond to the unrelated "charges" being leveled at me by the cult. I
knew the gig was up and the story was getting spiked. There was no way I would
stoop to responding to anything Scientology had to say about me, so I basically
told my insistent editor to take a flying fuck.
In the end, I got a 50% kill-fee + expenses from Rolling Stone, and promptly
walked the story and my research and photos over to New Times. With careful
editing, New Times ultimately ran the story, syndicating it in several of their
major city weekly papers. And, thankfully, Death of A 'Nethead has enjoyed a
life of its own on the 'net since. That folks, is just another foot-bullet
end-note to what happens when Scientology attempts to control the media.
Surprisingly, and to their credit, Rolling Stone has hired me since -- I
reported on the alleged Phil Spector murder for an issue last year. Although I
don't expect Rolling Stone to be hiring me again any time soon (they're dinged
on something unrelated in my latest book co-authored with Andrew Breitbart of
the Drudge Report), I've found a new outlet for exposing the cult of
Scientology to a mass audience: books!
http://www.hollywoodinterrupted.com/
With the recent publication of Hollywood, Interrupted (and attendant bestseller
status), more people can be exposed to the ugliness of Scientology.
With all credit due to the fine journalists who came before me and continue on
with amazing exposes and think pieces published on Scientology, and various
celebrities making idiotic public statements in deference to the cult that
binds them, Scientology is suffering more than ever in the eye of enlightened
masses.
Ten years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find a publisher willing to take on the
subject of Scientology, despite the groundbreaking, best efforts of authors
Atack, Lamont, Cooper, Corydon et al. I remember discussing the idea of a book
on Scientology a decade ago with an literary agent I shared with Paulette
Cooper. His response was, "The problem with books on cults is that they wind
up becoming cult books." What he was saying was that a book on Scientology
would not sell.
To their credit, our publisher, John Wiley & Sons, barely flinched when it came
to running an entire section on Scientology (as it relates to Hollywood) in
Hollywood, Interrupted. They did have a legitimate legal problem with stuff on
Lisa Mcpherson, but that was understandable because the civil case is still in
play.
So, the tide is turning in terms of media interest (including book publishing)
of the cult. If only RV Young was around to tell his entire story. I bet that
book would sell. I hesitate to applaud the still acknowledged "mainstream"
media for stepping up with solid Scientology reporting. Yep, we're still in
the age where the heterosexual Tom Cruise can make uncontested comments like
"Psychiatry should be outlawed," but - thanks to savvy book publishers, the
internet, certain cable news outlets and talk radio - scrutiny of Scientology
has reached a whole new, worldwide level.
There are too many names to mention, but the real thanks goes to the
grassrooters found right here on ARS. You know who you are. Keep up the good
work. A hack like me is truly humbled by your continuing efforts.
Mark Ebner
Jim Beebe
itself is worthy of publication. You are right on with your comment on
discovering a new market for exposing Scientology...books. Your book
arrived with just the right timing.
I would like to offer my opinion that the market for a book on Scientology
is heating up. Besides the general public a lot of people out there have
been burned and many of them, not to mention the relatives of those still in
the cult, would buy it.
Think about it, Mark. Did you read, "Death of a Scientologist" by Tori
Marlon that came out in the Chicago Reader a couple of years ago? This
article is long enough, in depth enough, and written well enough to make a
terrific book. With some rewrite, of course.
Once again, I salute your magnificent work. With you on the east coast and
Dave Touresky on the East, Scientology has no chance at all.
JB
"MarkEbner59" <marke...@aol.com> wrote in message
Magoo
"Jim Beebe" <jbe...@centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:5a-dnQRhV6a...@centurytel.net...
> Mark, thank you for this thoughtful and well written statement. This in
> itself is worthy of publication. You are right on with your comment on
> discovering a new market for exposing Scientology...books. Your book
> arrived with just the right timing.
>
> I would like to offer my opinion that the market for a book on Scientology
> is heating up. Besides the general public a lot of people out there have
> been burned and many of them, not to mention the relatives of those still
in
> the cult, would buy it.
>
> Think about it, Mark. Did you read, "Death of a Scientologist" by Tori
> Marlon that came out in the Chicago Reader a couple of years ago? This
> article is long enough, in depth enough, and written well enough to make a
> terrific book. With some rewrite, of course.
>
> Once again, I salute your magnificent work. With you on the east coast
and
> Dave Touresky on the East, Scientology has no chance at all.
>
> JB
Ditto to what Jim has said.
You wrote a fabulous article, and I sat and cried a few days ago, re-reading
it. I knew Phillip, and Marie, and what an utter tragedy! You told it so
well, I'm amazed they bought OSA's BS, but hey...as you've said, thankfully
it has a life of it's own :)
Congrats on all that you have done!
My best,
Tory/ Magoo!
IDA J 007
>From: marke...@aol.com (MarkEbner59)
>Date: 03/27/2004 12:35 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: <20040327153543...@mb-m06.aol.com>
Thanks Mark--We need many more "hacks" like you --ones who will stand up and
tell it like it is. I have ordered your book and look forward to the read.
I am glad you related your previous problem in getting your works in print.To
be fair-gamed is not what we look for in the land of free-speech. The more
books, articles and life stories that print the truth the safer this country
can be. So again, Mark I thank you and when you have a free day come this way.
Next time it is a dinner rather than a bowl of soup!
Ida
"You must have crossed the river to tell the crocodile he has bad breath"
chinese proverb #117B
Jim Beebe
book they ordered is in. My relatives will pick it up and I will be reading
it tomorrow-Sunday.
Jim B
"MarkEbner59" <marke...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040327153543...@mb-m06.aol.com...
barb
First off, let me say I want to be you when I grow up! And secondly, I
am astounded that the San Diego Union-Tribune even published my letter
concerning columnist Ozzie Robert's article showcasing a volunteer
"minister."
I've had several letters published in the past year, two or three. All
of them have been harsh criticisms of the cult and its practices. But
the fact that our local, fairly conservative paper, chose to print what
is basically a call to people to research Scientology via Google is in
truth, jawdroppingly surprising. It's almost like somebody on the
paper's staff actually looked up some of my suggestions, and then deemed
it printworthy to offset Ozzie's happy shiny portrayal of the
Scientology cult!
Yep, the days of terroristic threats of lawsuits seem to be coming to an
end. Well documented rebuttals to Scientology promotion are being
published, as if the publishers are no longer afraid of Scientology's
litigation machine. Frankly, I've been surprised at the response. I
really never expected any of my letters to make the final cut, but
thanks to the internet, the times, they are a'changin!
Sweet, innit! I suspect this is just the tip of the oncoming iceberg for
DM and the cult. Time Magazine made the intitial breakthrough. Now, the
field is open to (heh) fair game!
Gentlemen, start your modems!
--
--barb
Chaplain,ARSCC
"Imagine a church so dangerous, you must sign a release
form before you can receive its "spiritual assistance."
This assistance might involve holding you against your
will for an indefinite period, isolating you from
friends and family, and denying you access to
appropriate medical care. You will of course be billed
for this treatment - assuming you survive it. If not,
the release form absolves your caretakers of all
responsibility for your suffering and death.
Welcome to the Church of Scientology."
--Dr. Dave Touretzky
Peter Alexander
Jim Beebe
"barb" <bwa...@cox.net> wrote in message news:406638C7...@cox.net...
> MarkEbner59 wrote:
> > When I contacted Marie Gale for the Rolling Stone story I was assigned
on her
> > son Philip's suicide, she immediately did her research on me, finding my
> > original Spy magazine expose --
> > So, the tide is turning in terms of media interest (including book
publishing)
> > of the cult. If only RV Young was around to tell his entire story. I
bet that
> > book would sell. I hesitate to applaud the still acknowledged
"mainstream"
> > media for stepping up with solid Scientology reporting. Yep, we're
still in
> > the age where the heterosexual Tom Cruise can make uncontested comments
like
> > "Psychiatry should be outlawed," but - thanks to savvy book publishers,
the
> > internet, certain cable news outlets and talk radio - scrutiny of
Scientology
> > has reached a whole new, worldwide level. > > play.
> Peter Alexander
I think you are right. There is something different in the air. The
lawsuits are pointing the other direction now. Hopefully, pressure will
mount on the IRS now. And the Dept. of Justice
Dicktop_Stud
> When I contacted Marie Gale for the Rolling Stone story I was assigned on her
> son Philip's suicide, she immediately did her research on me, finding my
> original Spy magazine expose --
>
> http://www.drasticmedia.com/Scientology.html
>
> Understandably, she was reticent about me interviewing her, but I insisted that
> the story was to be about her son, his life and tragic suicide. In e-mails and
> phone conversations I made it clear that the story was not to be about
> Scientology per se, except where it applied in terms of Philip's background. I
> argued that I was going ahead with the story, with or without her, and
> ultimately she agreed to a face-to-face interview, the results of which can be
> found in my story, Death of a 'Nethead -
>
> http://www.drasticmedia.com/Nethead.html
>
> Judge the story as you will, but understand that it almost never saw the
> published page, mainly because, although Marie Gale agreed not to "report" me
> to Scientology, in the end, she did. She went directly to her "old friend"
> Heber Jentszch, who, in cooperation with OSA, proceeded to "dead agent" me with
> Rolling Stone. They sent the requisite DA pack on to my publisher along with a
> letter that aligned me with "known criminals [like Garry Scarff]" Oddly, I
> believe I had met Garry maybe once before, but I certainly did not know him
> other than by sight.
That's correct. Mark introduced himself to me at a reception in Graham
Berry's condo years ago. It was the first time we met.