Author Archives | John M. Simpson
John M. Simpson - who has written 78 posts on Oil Watchdog.
John M. Simpson is a veteran journalist who held top editing positions at international, national and community newspapers. Most recently he was executive editor of Tribune Media Services International, a syndication company. He was previously deputy editor of USA Today and editor of its international edition.
Simpson taught journalism at Dublin City University in Ireland, and consulted for The Irish Times and The Gleaner in Jamaica. He served as president of the World Editors Forum. Recently he wrote FTCR's report, "Affordability, Accessibility & Accountability in California Stem Cell Research." His op-ed articles have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News, the Sacramento Bee, and the Wisconsin State Journal.
Simpson holds a B.A. in philosophy from Harpur College of SUNY Binghamton and was a Gannett Fellow at the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies at the University of Hawaii. He has an M.A. in Communication Management from the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication.
Blog Post
Gas Prices Hit January Record
1-09-08 by simpson The highest average retail gasoline price ever for January was hit this week when it soared 5.6 cents to $3.11 a gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). It was 80.3 cents a gallon more than a year ago. With prices soaring in what traditionally is a time of lower [...]
Blog Post
Chevron’s 138% Rate Increase
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
1-08-2008 by simpson If you’re bothered by soaring gasoline prices here’s an increase that’s even more appalling. A water company owned by Chevron is seeking a 138% water rate increase that 200 residents of rural Casmalia, CA say could kill their community. The background on the oil giant’s latest outrage was reported by Malia Spencer [...]
Blog Post
BP Pleads Guilty
Thursday, November 29, 2007
11-29-07 by simpson BP pleaded guilty today to failing to prevent a huge spill in America’s largest oil field on Alaska’s North Slope. Bumbling Petroleum has agreed to a fine of $20 million for one violation of the Clean Water Act. The 200,000-gallon spill was caused by reckless cost-cutting that led to a failure to [...]
Blog Post
No Oil Money At Smithsonian
Monday, November 19, 2007
11-19-2007 by simpson The American Petroleum Institute (API), Big Oil’s favorite mouthpiece, has pulled its $5 million offer to sponsor a centerpiece exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution about the oceans as a global treasure . The move came after two Regents had questioned the proposal. Now oil companies won’t be able to spend their ill-gotten [...]
Press Release
BP Deal Sells Out UC-Berkeley
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
NEWS RELEASE November 14, 2007 CONTACT: John M. Simpson, 310-392-0522, x317; or cell: 310-292-1902 UC Deal With Oil Giant Sells Out University’s Values; Insults Regents and Public, Consumer Advocates Say; New Details Emerge Granting BP More Power Over University Research Santa Monica, CA — The $500 million deal with BP signed today by University of [...]
Blog Post
Big Oil U Adds A Campus
Thursday, November 8, 2007
11-8-07 by simpson Oil giant BP and UC Berkeley have yet to sign the contract for the $500 million deal that would create the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) at UC Berkeley, but there was an announcement this week of another BP-funded project at Arizona State University in Tempe. It’s only a $6.6 million deal with [...]
Blog Post
Dynes ‘Reviewing’ UC-BP Deal
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
11-06-07 by simpson The contract that would create a $500 million research deal between UC Berkeley and oil giant BP is “under review” in the office of University of California President Robert Dynes. Not clear is whether it will be vetted by the UC Regents as we and two other groups have demanded. Last [...]
Press Release
Regents Must Review UC-BP Deal
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
NEWS RELEASE October 31, 2007 CONTACT: John M. Simpson, 310-392-0522, x317, or cell: 310-292-1902 Consumer Advocates Insist UC Regents Review $500 Million "UC-BP" Deal; Demand Proposed Contract Terms Be Made Public Santa Monica, CA — The University of California Board of Regents must approve any contract with BP creating the controversial Energy Biosciences Institute at [...]
Blog Post
UC-BP About to Open
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
10-30-07 by simpson The contract covering the $500 million deal for BP to fund the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) at UC Berkeley is about to be signed. Though the project was announced last February, negotiators have taken longer than expected to reach a contract. Signing is expected next week. According to a report in the [...]
Blog Post
They Don’t Take Every Dollar
Monday, October 29, 2007
10-29-07 I got a letter today and discovered Chevron actually doesn’t keep every consumer dollar that it could. I got a buck back from the oil giant. You’ll remember I dropped by Town Hall Los Angeles last week where Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly was speaking so I could give him our Golden Nozzle Award for [...]
Blog Post
BP Moves ‘Beyond Problems’
Monday, October 29, 2007
10-29-07 by Simpson First BP tried to position itself as Beyond Petroleum, though Bumbling Petroleum is more accurate. Now with cold cash — just pocket change to the oil giant — BP is trying to put itself Beyond Problems. Last week BP agreed to pay $373 million in federal fines and restitution. In the largest [...]
Blog Post
Delivering the Golden Nozzle
Thursday, October 25, 2007
10-25-07 by simpson Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly came to Los Angeles to make a speech. We figured it was a great opportunity to remind him what the company’s soaring gasoline prices do to consumers. I dropped by to present him with the “Golden Nozzle Award” for sticking it to California consumers. I had bought my [...]
Press Release
Chevron CEO Gets Gouging Award
Thursday, October 25, 2007
NEWS RELEASE October 25, 2007 CONTACT: John M. Simpson, 310-392-0522, x317, or cell: 310-292-1902 Consumer Advocate Confronts Chevron Chief Executive Over Soaring Gasoline Prices With "Golden Nozzle Award" Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Advocates from Oilwatchdog.org today confronted Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly over soaring gasoline prices and presented him with a symbolic "Golden Nozzle Award." [...]
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Wednesday, January 9, 2008
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