370:"The entire environment is incestuous. They introduce new cars. They fly journalists in and put them up at really nice hotels and, you know, treat them to experiences that they would never possibly in a million years — they wouldn't even be allowed in these hotels ordinarily. You know, and that's not supposed to affect their judgment. But it is a compromised business, and it is also true that newspapers are under a great deal of revenue pressure on this score, and so yeah, a favorable editorial/advertorial content is often created to satisfy that need."
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to the classified advertising department with the expectation "that he would write dealer-friendly pieces to attract readers to the newspaper's automobile classified section." In contrast to the newsroom, where Neil had worked with editors, he noticed his copy was no longer edited. "For seven years,
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Automotive journalist Dan Neil is as opinionated and outspoken as any of his peers, yet he opines without blunt-force drama, wielding an acerbic wit that makes him the thinking man's smart-ass. The
Pulitzer Prize winner has written for AutoWeek, Car and Driver, LA Times, The New York Times, and The
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Neil is married to Tina Larsen Neil and has twin daughters, Rosalind and
Vivienne — as well as a son, Henry (Hank) Neil, from his first marriage. After four years of trying to get pregnant and several in-vitro fertilization procedures, Neil's wife conceived four embryos in a high risk, "white
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described a back-seat encounter with his girlfriend, writing "this was loving, consensual and — given the
Expedition's dual airbags, side impact beams and standard four-wheel anti-lock brakes — safe sex." The News and Observer reported Neil's recollection of the column in an interview years
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Neil called Zell "a corporate raider," adding "he's not a publisher. Newspapers are too important to the public to be treated as just pieces on a financial chessboard." Neil and a group of Times employees claimed violations of the
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Put on probation for the article, Neil was instructed to have his articles reviewed by an editor as well as the director of classified auto advertising. Refusing, he was subsequently fired, and wrote in a later
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In 1999, Neil won the Ken Purdy Award for
Excellence in Automotive Journalism, from the International Motor Press Association. In 2002, his work was selected for Houghton Mifflin's Best American Sports Writing.
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and gained a following for his approach to automotive writing, which routinely included industry criticism — including criticism of automakers themselves and government emissions and safety policies.
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analogies and personal experience. Neil worked with the
Raleigh paper until 1996, when he was fired. He subsequently worked as a free-lance journalist, including five years as contributing editor to
305:"I wrote at some point about the kids getting into the Ford Expedition and commenting on the 'footprints' on the windshield. Well, that was just it! People went crazy! It was kind of like
469:, advertiser consolidation, classified ads migrating online, rising newsprint costs, bloated debt structures and, yes, over-staffing. Not to mention the rise of Internet news."
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397:. The column was syndicated by Tribune Media in 2006. Neil won the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors award for best general commentary column in 2007.
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knuckle pregnancy." Facing further complications, he and his wife chose to abort two of the fetuses. Neil wrote about the experience for the
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on trial," noting "newspapers have been under siege since the technology bubble popped in the late 1990s, with problems ranging from
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contended that it was disingenuous to suggest that advertisers pressured the paper into firing Neil, since Neil worked for an
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Neil lived in Los
Angeles before moving again to North Carolina, when he left the L.A. Times and began writing for
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In interviews he has said his goals at the time were to "learn to write and see the world." Neil was recruited by
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article that he was fired "for refusing to have my column vetted by the classified advertising department."
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of auto reviewers." Freelance automotive journalist Thomas Bey called Neil "the thinking man's smart ass."
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I had unfettered access to 200,000 readers." Neil's writing eventually reflected the lack of constraint.
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was transferred from the editorial department to the paper's business division — and advertiser control.
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313:-- a none too daring transgression, overall, but the thing that finally sent people over the edge."
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and other editorial publications to advertiser control — and laid off at least 1,000 employees.
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and his mother was a private investigator. He received a B.A. degree in
Creative Writing from
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magazine in 1994 as a senior contributing editor. In 1995, he began contributing reviews to
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808:. The News & Observer, A.C. Snow, May 02, 2004, modified Oct 23, 2005. Archived from
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506:"Pulitzer winner Dan Neil reportedly leaves Los Angeles Times for Wall Street Journal"
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567:. The New York Times, April 8, 2004, David Carr. April 8, 2004. Archived from
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Neil was born in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on January 12, 1960, and moved to
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Neil developed his writing style, combining humor with pragmatic insight,
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487:"Wall Street Journal Auto Columnist Dan Neil Joins FOXSports.com on MSN"
268:. In 1999 Neil was named senior contributing editor for travel magazine
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In
February 2010, Neil left the L.A. Times and accepted a position at
458:
660:. The Pointer Institute and Bonus Books, 2004, Keith Woods. 2004.
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In 2008, Neil participated in a federal class action suit against
520:"The Car Show with Adam Carolla: First impressions from the set"
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618:. Askmen.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016
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850:. Forbes.com, James Erik Abels, 09.17.08. September 17, 2008.
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In
September 2003, Neil became a full-time columnist for the
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is an American journalist who is an automotive columnist for
786:. USAtoday.com, April 20, 2004, Philip Meyer. April 20, 2004
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The incident highlighted the growing issue that newspapers,
565:"Some Highish Brows Furrow as a Car Critic Gets a Pulitzer"
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In 1991, Dan Neil had been moved from the newsroom of the
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Best Newspaper Writing 2004: The Nation's Best Journalism
536:. International Motor Press Association. Archived from
508:. Autoblog.com, Jeremy Korzeniewski, February 5, 2010.
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After the takeover, Zell rated reporters by how many
784:"Close gaps in wall between ads, unpaid information"
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Neil began his professional writing career with the
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for automotive journalism, and in 2004 Neil won the
334:section of the advertising department at the time.
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598:"Interview with Brooke Gladstone & Dan Neil:
865:"'L.A. Times' Refugees Sue for Control of Paper"
831:. LAobserved.com, Kevin Roderick, April 6, 2004.
640:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
522:. Autoblog.com, July 12, 2011, Michael Harley.
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1160:Pulitzer Prize for Criticism winners
867:. Portfolio.com, September 16, 2008.
461:described the suit as putting "the
403:was discontinued in 2008 after the
389:In February 2005, he began writing
683:"The abortion debate brought home"
295:Neil's January 1996 review of the
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604:. Onthemedia.org, April 15, 2005.
100:and a former staff writer at the
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696:Mark Jerkowitz (April 6, 2004).
463:fast-changing newspaper business
443:they produced, relinquished the
235:as an obituary writer in 1985.
154:the Pulitzer board noted Neil's
1165:East Carolina University alumni
600:A Perfect Vehicle for Criticism
251:which he continued until 2003.
194:North Carolina State University
71:North Carolina State University
1180:The Wall Street Journal people
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848:"Putting Newspapers On Trial"
829:"Sidebar to Neil's Pulitzer*"
272:a post he held through 2001.
925:Pulitzer Prize for Criticism
741:"Ken W. Purdy Award Winners"
700:. Raleigh News and Observer.
534:"Ken Purdy Award Recipients"
428:, who in 2007 purchased the
144:Pulitzer Prize for Criticism
119:He was a panelist on 2011's
254:Beginning with his work at
134:In 1999, Neil received the
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757:. The Wall Street Journal.
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405:Los Angeles Times Magazine
395:Los Angeles Times Magazine
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698:"Pulizter Prizes Awarded"
349:— author of a book about
1155:Los Angeles Times people
681:Dan Neil (May 6, 2007).
256:The News & Observer,
186:East Carolina University
178:New Bern, North Carolina
62:East Carolina University
44:Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
887:The Wall Street Journal
413:The Wall Street Journal
339:under economic pressure
328:The News & Observer
233:Raleigh, North Carolina
228:The News & Observer
209:The Wall Street Journal
97:The Wall Street Journal
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188:and an M.A. degree in
467:declining circulation
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85:Automotive journalism
1145:Motoring journalists
812:on February 8, 2013.
715:"Dan Neil Biography"
629:Wall Street Journal.
616:"Dan Neil Interview"
489:. Sports Media News.
1150:American columnists
311:costume malfunction
289:News & Observer
282:News & Observer
1051:Christopher Knight
321:Independent Weekly
247:The New York Times
190:English Literature
182:Stanley Powertools
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434:Los Angeles Times
420:2008 Zell lawsuit
384:Los Angeles Times
164:called Neil "the
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721:. April 2, 2004
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927:(2001–2025)
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685:. LA Times.
622:February 1,
345:. Notably,
332:advertorial
166:Oscar Wilde
160:Journalist
1134:Categories
1033:Hilton Als
473:References
353:'s called
172:Background
50:Occupation
34:1960-01-12
1118:2001–2025
1111:1976–2000
1104:1970–1975
790:April 30,
725:April 21,
575:April 30,
401:800 Words
391:800 Words
222:Spectator
58:Education
955:Dan Neil
719:LA Times
636:cite web
426:Sam Zell
378:LA Times
260:literary
241:AutoWeek
202:LA Times
148:LA Times
109:AutoWeek
92:Dan Neil
22:Dan Neil
544:May 22,
150:column
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662:ISBN
642:link
624:2023
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