Company CEO challenges quote

The president and CEO of Oreck Manufacturing is challenging a quote attributed to him in a story in the Tennessean, the daily newspaper in Nashville, that was later reprinted in the Sun Herald newspaper in Mississippi.

J.R. Welsh, a reporter for the Sun Herald, wrote, “The letter, originally sent to Sun Herald executives, was distributed to Oreck employees in Long Beach, Metairie, La., and Cookeville. In the correspondence, company president Tom Oreck criticized the Sun Herald’s reporting on his company, but did not elaborate on alleged inaccuracies.

“The newspaper has written extensively about the relocation and the fact that Oreck Corp. has been given numerous incentives worth millions of dollars by Harrison County government since 1997. The incentives were allowed under state law.

“Oreck also criticized the Sun Herald for reprinting a quote attributed to him by the Nashville Tennessean. That newspaper quoted him citing employee losses after Hurricane Katrina, and saying Oreck’s Long Beach employees no longer constituted ‘a productive work force.’

“Oreck said in the letter, ‘We notified the Tennessean that the statement… was a misquote and completely incorrect.’

“Randy McClain, acting business editor at The Tennessean, said Thursday his newspaper was never directly contacted by Oreck or the company.

“McClain said the reporter who had quoted Oreck was contacted by a Chicago public relations executive representing Oreck Manufacturing. She suggested a follow-up story on Oreck, but did not request a correction, McClain said. He added that a decision was made not to write a follow-up. McClain said The Tennessean stands by the quote and the story.”

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