New York Post, 1-19-2002 Page Six A book that's not fit to review THE author of a new book that blasts the New York Times for its politically correct reportage suspects he's been blacklisted from the paper's influential book review section. William McGowan, author of "Coloring the News: How Crusading for Diversity has Corrupted American Journalism," believes that Times editors are steering clear of his tome because it is harshly critical of the Old Gray Lady. The book slams the broadsheet for its inaccurate reporting on a rash of arson fires in black churches in the South (most of which turned out to be accidental) and its cheerleading for gays and women in the military. "I just think that because diversity is such a priority for [Times publisher] Arthur Sulzberger, it could be making the editors a little nervous about reviewing the book," McGowan says. "I do know that my name has come up in meetings at the book review. I know they are aware of the book. I don't know why they haven't reviewed it yet." McGowan's last book, "Only Man Is Vile: The Tragedy of Sri Lanka," was a Times' "notable book" in 1992. A regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, McGowan has written for the Times, the Washington Post, Newsweek and the Columbia Journalism Review. "Coloring the News" takes aim at "elite media" outlets like the Times and the Washington Post for their biased coverage of the alleged "racist" burnings of black churches in the South, the military's integration of women and gays, California's Proposition 209 vote, and other hot-button issues. McGowan points out that the Washington Post, which he also criticizes, has nevertheless reviewed his book. "It was a very flattering review, and it was very surprising because of the positions I take in my book, but they had the integrity and intellectual honesty to have someone from outside the Washington Post to review it," he said. "I'm not accusing the Times of intellectual dishonesty by not reviewing it, but I don't know why they haven't." Toby Usnik, a spokesman for the Times, told PAGE SIX: "We receive tens of thousands of books this year. We cannot review all of them." Aside from offending The Times, McGowan has also raised the ire of Hollywood heavyweight Marlon Brando. After Brando saw McGowan interviewed on "Life and Times Tonight," a public-affairs show on KCET, a PBS affiliate in Los Angeles, the actor called up the station's president, Al Jerome, to complain about McGowan's conservative views. A spokesperson for KCET told us that Brando is indeed friends with Jerome, and is a financial supporter of the station. "I don't know if he called or what was said," she said. | 
