WPRO’s Yorke Says Providence Journal “Is On the Take” for Twin River Due to Former Exec's Influence

WPRO’s Yorke Says Providence Journal “Is On the Take” for Twin River Due to Former Exec's Influence

WPRO talk show host Dan Yorke said on air that the Providence Journal’s coverage of Twin River's effort to secure the state’s lottery contract is biased -- and is being influenced by a former newspaper executive who is now a lobbyist for the casino company.

“The Journal is on the take,” said York.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO FROM WPRO ABOVE

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Yorke said that the newspaper’s journalism and especially their editorials are tainted due to the influence of former Providence Journal Executive Vice President and Legal Counsel Mark Ryan who lobbies at the State House for Twin River. According to Ryan's bio, "he remains a consultant to the publisher of the Providence Journal Company."

Ryan is paid $5,000 a month by casino company Twin River, in its effort to dethrone IGT as the state's exclusive lottery contractor. Ryan also lobbies for the newspaper industry, National Grid, Hasbro and the marijuana industry. 

Ryan according to multiple State House sources is a close ally of Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello.

Yorke, during a broadcast on WPRO AM radio on September 24, said that Ryan is influencing what the Journal is writing both as a news organization and editorially.

Citing the relationship between Twin River and Mattiello, Yorke said that the newspaper should investigate the issue -- but won’t -- due to the conflict situation.

“[It] ought to be written by someplace like the Journal. Oh, I'm sorry -- the Journal wouldn’t write that now because the Journal’s former boss is now a lobby guy for Twin River,” said Yorke.

Yorke also discussed the Providence Journal’s editorial criticism of the agreement between IGT, the company that has been providing the lottery services for decades, and Governor Gina Raimondo.

“And, the reason why you see [in the Providence Journal] all the ‘we should do Twin River and the Governor is in bed with IGT’ is because the Journal is on the take,” said Yorke.

“But, I am telling you, editorially it is on the take…[the] Journal is getting marching owners on what it should write,” said Yorke.

Recent Editorial 

An editorial written by Providence Editorial Editor Ed Achorn was published on September 21 — three days before Yorke made the charges. Achorn wrote a positive editorial about the announcement that Twin River had partnered with another lottery company — Camelot. Achorn has written a series of editorials criticizing the IGT contract extension.

The editorial stated in part, “Complicating matters, however, is the close political relationship between Governor Raimondo, who struck the deal, and Donald Sweitzer, IGT’s $7,500-a-month State House lobbyist. That relationship is now the subject of an Ethics Commission investigation.” 

The Providence Journal editorial does not mention the lobbying relationship between Twin River and Ryan. Or, that Ryan also lobbies for Rhode Island newspapers, including the Providence Journal.

Other Providence Journal editorials criticizing the state's agreement with IGT are titled: "A responsibility to probe IGT deal," "Governor should be more forthcoming," "An ethics probe of the governor," and "IGT deal requires intense scrutiny."

In addition, Yorke criticized the relationship between Mattiello, Twin River’s spokesperson Patti Doyle and the other interests. He said it is an “incestuous” relationship.

Yorke, when reached for comment on Tuesday night, said he did not have anything additional to add to what he had said on the radio.

Doyle told GoLocal that Yorke’s claims were “simply not true.”

Doyle has been a long-time spokesperson for the casino, dating back for more than a decade, and in the last two election cycles, she was a paid consultant to Mattiello’s political campaign.

Larry Berman, spokesman for Mattiello said the Speaker had no comment on Yorke's claims.

According to Ryan's office, he is traveling overseas and was not available.

Efforts to reach Providence Journal Executive Editor Alan Rosenberg were unsuccessful. 

The Providence Journal, which in the 1980s enjoyed a weekday circulation of nearly 200,000, has seen its circulation drop to less than 35,000 per day. The newspaper has also slashed its newsroom staffing by more than 80 percent. The newspaper is presently owned by GateHouse Media and that company is expected to finalize a merger deal with Gannett next month.

Editor's note: Both Twin River and IGT have advertised with GoLocal and presently IGT is an advertiser.