As I pointed out in today's editorial about Detroit's branding fiasco, I was extremely disappointed by Mark Rechtin of Automotive News [sub]. When I called him for more info on the J.D. Power Customer Ratio index story, I never expected to hear that he'd cut a deal with J.D.'s mob to limit his coverage to excerpts. The index data was important information presented in a semi-public forum, using a projector no less. If a TTAC reporter made that kind of agreement with a news source, their services here would no longer be required. Anyway, the more we talked, the worse it got. Rechtin said reporters from all the big guns had attended the conference. A handful recognized the importance of the material. All of those who did agreed not to use the full chart. And only Automotive News carried the story. As long as the automotive press refuses to report the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, TTAC will do its best to fill in the gaps. And even after that.