"My condo was corrupt"

So exactly what steps do you take to verify these "stories" that people submit?

HI Waverly - Good question. I will interview whoever's sharing the story but it's basically the honor system, with any potentially litigious details blurred. For obvious reasons, this sort of stuff is so hard to capture using traditional reporting techniques (on-the-record, verified anecdotes).

Teri

Yeah, it's so hard to capture this "stuff" using facts and documentation so of course, we'll just go for the cloaked smears.

and what is your strategy when you inevitably get a nasty letter from the co-op/ condo lawyer? Do you have enough money to cover legal fees?

"mafiosi-type supers" maybe going a bit far. Dead bodies wont be found in basements. That said, unfortunately, in many condos/coops often times nobody is really looking over the shoulder of Boards. People are busy and it's usually not worth it to any individual owner to really dig into the numbers. In many cases, little fiefdoms are formed and bad stuff does happen. Fiefdoms with little oversight are not a good thing-thing Albany, think Congress.

So anyone out of work with some creative writing skills and a desire to smear someone has a forum...great....

brickunderground, I think it's a terrific idea in general, except--

Professional journalists who specialize in this kind of work not only know how to do it, but they also have parent companies that will stand behind them. As well as experienced editors who will ask hard questions to try to keep the junk from going public. Yet, fake stories have been published or broadcast (many famous examples).

You are extremely vulnerable to being duped. The other bad thing you could do is dupe the public.

It seems so simple, so easy, to rake muck of various kinds. But it isn't. Off the record has its place, but you have to know how to use it.

I wonder if you even know the significance of the public figure/private person distinction in libel and slander law?

And you think you can cover up identifying details? That's a bigger can of worms than you realize.

At the very least, may I recommend that you get somebody from Columbia's journalism school (faculty or adjunct) to be an advisor, if you haven't taken this step already. Call the school up, ask questions, get somebody like that who knows investigative journalism on the phone and have a chat. Good grief, If you're running this kind of stuff, calling Columbia should be a walk in the park for you.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. You really don't know what you're doing.

{Manhattan real estate agent. Journalist for 20 years.}

Teri's a professional journalist

Not for long if she gets sued.

{Manhattan real estate agent.}

I like the blog. Maybe you can get someone to write about brokers who insinuate themselves in buildings like bed bugs, get on Boards and control what sales get approved. Get some folks to wear wires so you can provide evidence of brokers kicking back a portion of their commission to complicit Board members.

fluter, you have a law degree as well as a real estate license?

AR, you seem overly concerned about credentials: "professional journalist" ; "law degree." I am ashamed to admit that I have a law degree (NYU, Law Review), but-guess what- I don't know anything about slander or libel laws. No offense, but in my book, having a law degree is about as related to knowledge as the Scarecrow's "degree" was to his wisdom. Enjoy your turkey.

flatironj, she was clearly opining on the legality of the blog. and she clearly told her that she had no idea what to do in terms of journalism. i'm wondering what she based that on. if she based it on her past as a journalist, then i was simply pointing out that the blogger is and has been a journalist as well.

happy thanksgiving to you as well.

AR, fair enough. I've just met so many lawyers who dont know any law, architects who dont know any architecture and real estate brokers who dont know anything about real estate. Hope you had a nice turkey day.

Well, can we agree that SE posting does not require any credentials? (in fact, one might sometime wonder if it precludes them)

jim, or at least it dilutes them.

flatironj, no argument from me. many professionals who don't know. in so many areas. i had a great turkey day with very witty and loving family members. may you have had an equally fantastic turkey day. although we had the turk 'n surf day. deep fried turkey. you've never sunk to the proper depths of turkey consumption until you've tried it.