From today's Times "Corrections":

An article on Sunday about some of the more captivating events in the New York region in 2006 referred incorrectly to a federal investigation of Jared Paul Stern, a former contributor to the Page Six section of The New York Post whom Ronald W. Burkle, the supermarket magnate, has accused of an extortion attempt. The investigation came to light when it was reported by The Post; it was not announced by federal authorities. In addition, allegations that Mr. Stern had been caught on video demanding a $100,000 payment, as well as monthly stipends, for keeping negative accounts of Mr. Burkle from the press were made by Mr. Burkle, not by federal authorities.

Jared Paul Stern's original memo (Dec. 31) obtained by FishbowlNY:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jared Paul Stern
To: NYTimes
CC: Bill Keller, Barney Calame Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2006 15:16:20 EST
Subject: Retraction / Apology Needed


Gentlemen: Alan Feuer's story today, "A Trapped Cat, a Fleeing Bull and a Few Human Tragedies, Too" contains some gross inaccuracies in the section regarding me, "A Gossip, More Idle."

Let me address each false statement in turn:

1. A much more common ailment — avarice — was in the news in April when federal authorities announced they were investigating Jared Paul Stern, a gossip broker and longtime contributor to the Page Six scandal section of The New York Post.

Federal authorities have announced no such thing. No authorities or officials of any kind have ever commented on nor confirmed anything regarding an alleged investigation whatsoever. This has been noted previously in published reports.

2. No charges have been filed in the case, in which investigators say that Mr. Stern tried to blackmail Ronald W. Burkle, the supermarket magnate.

Again, "investigators" have said no such thing, and this statement is libelous. In addition, there is no "case" whatsoever and it is false to state that there is.

3. They say Mr. Stern was in fact caught on video demanding a $100,000 payment, as well as monthly stipends, for keeping negative accounts of Mr. Burkle from appearing in the Post.

See # 1 & 2. The only person who has made any such allegations is Burkle himself.

4. Not too long ago, it was reported that Mr. Stern (who denies the charges) received a book deal for his inside-the-fence account of the celebrity gossip world tentatively titled, "Stern Measures."

In #2 above, you state that "no charges have been filed." How then can I "den[y] the charges"? You have already stated there aren't any. What I deny, and intend to seek legal redress for, are Burkle's accusations and defamatory conduct, as well as derogatory articles such as this.

I have notified you in the past of demonstrably false and misleading statements in the unending series of articles you've seen fit to devote to Burkle's smear campaign. That includes emails to the Times reporters and editors involved, as well as Mr. Calame in May and October, and Senior Editor Greg Brock in October. You have issued various corrections along the way, including the one on April 11th regarding the false statment that I was "cooperating" with an investigation, though many other such reckless, malicious and innacurate statements have gone uncorrected. No doubt that has contributed to the injuriously false impression of events which even your own reporters have formed, to say nothing of your readers.

Please inform me as soon as possible what measures you intend to take to remedy this situation.

Sincerely,
Jared Paul Stern

cc: Joseph Tacopina, esq.

Note: Nothing stated herein is intended as, nor should it be deemed to constitute, a waiver or relinquishment of any legal or equitable rights or remedies, all of which are hereby expressly reserved.

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