I am continuing in my quest to get an answer from the Guardian over the pulled Hook story. This time I emailed their userhelp address, rather than the editors. Perhaps that’ll work better.

NB, the google cache is not working, for real this time. Do they have a timeout on their caching of news stories?

Subject: Story pulled from your site
Date: Fri, July 1, 2005 11:03 am
To: userhelp@guardian.co.uk

Hello,

I have emailed editors@guardianunlimited.co.uk on June 13th, June 14th, June 17th and June 22nd, regarding a story which was briefly run on your website before being pulled on Sunday, June 12th. The story was until recently cached by google; however, numerous mirrored copies can be found by searching google with the phrase “Mystery of the Nuclear Whistleblower”, i.e.:

http://64.233.161.104/search?hl=en&lr=&biw=991&q=mystery+of+the+nuclear+whistleblower&btnG=Search

Here is one such mirror:

http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1127

I did receive one reply to my initial enquiry from an employee named Julie, who did not know which story I was talking about. I provided more details, and have not heard anything back yet.

I am curious as to why the story was pulled;
a) Are you backing away from the allegations made in the story for legal/fact-checking reasons? (I am aware that there is some doubt over the veracity of Hook’s version of events.)
b) Were you asked to remove the story by powers that be?
c) Is there some other reason?

Whatever the case, I would definitely appreciate a reply from you on this matter. I do intend to keep researching this until I find an answer.

Sincerely,
Reuben

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