So you might remember a few weeks back that, just as Brainless: The Lies and Lunacy of Ann Coulter was arriving at bookstores, author Joe Maguire suddenly discovered that Reuters was no longer interested in having him cover the financial markets, claiming that the book violated the news organization's "Trust Principles." Well, speaking at the People for the American Way offices in New York City earlier this week, Maguire affirmed Brainless got him fired, telling the crowd, "They didn't like the title. I assume they didn't like the tone of the book." Arguing that the trust principles are meant to cover a Reuters correspondent's objectivity and fairness in that professional capacity, but not said correspondent's personal behavior, he adds:

"I didn't expect Reuters to throw me a party, or to help me publicize this book in any way. I also didn't expect them to tell me to find another job... The disagreement I had with Reuters has turned into really a First Amendment issue. If their corporate code of conduct is meant to govern what I do in my personal life—then we have a real problem."

Unless there's an actual law or government action abridging Maguire's ability to write and promote Brainless, though, this doesn't seem like much of a First Amendment issue. Do the Reuters policies censor employees who want to engage in outside journalistic endeavors? Quite possibly, depending on how they're applied, and that might be something for other journalists to consider before signing a contract with Reuters in the future. But is that the type of "censorship" the First is meant to cover? "Writing a book about a polarizing figure and getting to the truth in what was ultimately a journalistic exercise, but a personal one, I don't see how that is in violation of the Reuters trust principle," Maguire reflected. "They disagree." That sucks, but Reuters isn't Congress, and if their decision strikes Maguire (and outside observers) as arbitrary and stupid, well, Reuters has a constitutional right to be arbitrary and stupid as long as it doesn't violate any laws in the process.