“No news anchor has ever been off television for three years
and returned. If you terminate me, you’re right that the three-year non-compete
clause will kill my television career. You’re wrong that I won’t be able to hit
back, though.
“I get paid enough to have lawyers who have parsed this
clause, and there is nothing preventing me from going to Youtube and ripping
you apart. More people watch a funny cat video than your leading sitcom. Now, this
won’t hit with the internet-illiterate part of our audience, but it will poison
the 18-25 demo your advertisers are terrified about. If you think I can’t get
an audience, you’ve never seen a famous person go inflammatory online before.
“I can take my claims to the NY Times Op-Ed and The Huffington
Post, and my exit will be the top story on every other network, but that’ll be
a blip in a promotional tour. The book I write about you will sell more copies
for every move you try to make to discredit it, and it will go digital-first,
with links and social networks that will draw anyone with a Kindle or iPad to
new media. Don’t be surprised if Facebook signs me as their first anchor for
their first exclusive on-site programming, where I will get to cover any story
I want. If that comes to pass, I sincerely hope that I get to cover your
resignation from this network.”
Counter est. March 2, 2008