Roger Plothow
Roger Plothow is the publisher of the Idaho Falls Post-Register. Frank VanderSloot has often criticized the Post-Register for inaccurate reporting. Frank has often disagreed with the Post-Register's reporting on politics, business, and the Idaho Falls community. Roger Plothow and Frank VanderSloot's arguments have often been public and carried out in the Post-Register itself. It is interesting to note that it was Roger Plothow who came to Frank's defense when the article came out. Here is an excerpt of Roger Plothow's comments that he posted on an Idaho politics blog about his personal experiences with Frank VanderSloot:
"Roger Plothow:
Since my newspaper features prominently in this piece, perhaps I can offer some observations. First, there's no doubt that Frank is very aggressive in dealing with competition, the media, politics, etc. But when we write about people, it's usually best to get our facts straight.
1) Frank's not a billionaire, and really not even close. His fortune is sizeable, estimated by some as high as $750 million. Still, a billion is a billion.
2) I read the article in Mother Jones before it was pulled and changed. It was full of errors. (And, again, it featured the Post Register prominently.)
3) No medium has written more frequently or, at times, more crtically (sic) of Frank than the Post Register. He has often disagreed with us, sometimes vociferously. He and I have met personally on these issues. Sometimes, as with the Boys Scouts coverage, we ultimately agree to disagree. Sometimes he chooses to respond, sometimes not. However, I have always felt that he's been straightforward and not afraid to reconsider his position. And I've never felt so threatened that I considered pulling or killing a story.
4) To suggest that Frank can essentially shut down any criticism of him or his company is pure paranoid fantasy. There have been numerous times when Frank has stayed absolutely silent when we've criticized him.
Frank and I have gone the rounds in the past and may do so again in the future. One of the things I've learned from that is that he's not the ogre some have made him out to be. I disagree with his politics nearly 100 percent. But, unlike others with whom the Post Register has had run-ins, he's been willing to listen, engage, and even sometimes change his mind. He's also sometimes stuck to positions that I continue to believe were wrong. I don't know anyone about whom the same couldn't be said."
-Roger Plothow
"Roger Plothow:
Since my newspaper features prominently in this piece, perhaps I can offer some observations. First, there's no doubt that Frank is very aggressive in dealing with competition, the media, politics, etc. But when we write about people, it's usually best to get our facts straight.
1) Frank's not a billionaire, and really not even close. His fortune is sizeable, estimated by some as high as $750 million. Still, a billion is a billion.
2) I read the article in Mother Jones before it was pulled and changed. It was full of errors. (And, again, it featured the Post Register prominently.)
3) No medium has written more frequently or, at times, more crtically (sic) of Frank than the Post Register. He has often disagreed with us, sometimes vociferously. He and I have met personally on these issues. Sometimes, as with the Boys Scouts coverage, we ultimately agree to disagree. Sometimes he chooses to respond, sometimes not. However, I have always felt that he's been straightforward and not afraid to reconsider his position. And I've never felt so threatened that I considered pulling or killing a story.
4) To suggest that Frank can essentially shut down any criticism of him or his company is pure paranoid fantasy. There have been numerous times when Frank has stayed absolutely silent when we've criticized him.
Frank and I have gone the rounds in the past and may do so again in the future. One of the things I've learned from that is that he's not the ogre some have made him out to be. I disagree with his politics nearly 100 percent. But, unlike others with whom the Post Register has had run-ins, he's been willing to listen, engage, and even sometimes change his mind. He's also sometimes stuck to positions that I continue to believe were wrong. I don't know anyone about whom the same couldn't be said."
-Roger Plothow