David Wallis
Encyclopedia
David Wallis, born January 18, 1967, is an American journalist and an advocate for writers. He is the founder and CEO of Featurewell.com, an online syndication company.
Wallis, who has contributed to The New Yorker
, Slate, The Washington Post
and The New York Times
, is known for interviewing world leaders. In 1997, Wallis became the only reporter to interview Manuel Noriega
in prison. The story first appeared in London's Observer
, and Wallis subsequently sold the article to magazines and newspapers in more than 20 countries, prompting him in 2000 to launch the online syndication company Featurewell.com. The syndication agency now markets articles by more than 1000 top journalists, including Clive Thompson
, Ted Rall
, Susan Cheever
and Robert Reich
. Unlike many syndication companies, Featurewell pays its writers the majority of sales receipts.
In 2007, after the N.Y.P.D.
rejected Wallis's bid to renew his official press credentials, he sued New York City
and the Police Department in a federal court
. Civil rights
attorney Norman Siegel
represented Wallis and two other journalists who had also been denied press credentials. The plaintiffs charged the City with violating their Constitutional Rights
. The City soon gave the three plaintiffs press credentials.
Wallis, who has contributed to The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, Slate, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, is known for interviewing world leaders. In 1997, Wallis became the only reporter to interview Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
in prison. The story first appeared in London's Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, and Wallis subsequently sold the article to magazines and newspapers in more than 20 countries, prompting him in 2000 to launch the online syndication company Featurewell.com. The syndication agency now markets articles by more than 1000 top journalists, including Clive Thompson
Clive Thompson (journalist)
Clive Thompson is a Canadian freelance journalist, blogger and science and technology writer.Thompson graduated from the University of Toronto with majors in political science and English...
, Ted Rall
Ted Rall
Ted Rall is an American columnist, syndicated editorial cartoonist, and author. His political cartoons often appear in a multi-panel comic-strip format and frequently blend comic-strip and editorial-cartoon conventions. The cartoons appear in approximately 100 newspapers around the United States...
, Susan Cheever
Susan Cheever
Susan Cheever, , daughter of John Cheever and sister of Benjamin Cheever, is an author whose books include My Name is Bill - Bill Wilson: His Life and the Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous, a biography of Alcoholics Anonymous cofounder Bill Wilson; Home Before Dark, a memoir about her father, John...
and Robert Reich
Robert Reich
Robert Bernard Reich is an American political economist, professor, author, and political commentator. He served in the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and was Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997....
. Unlike many syndication companies, Featurewell pays its writers the majority of sales receipts.
In 2007, after the N.Y.P.D.
N.Y.P.D.
N.Y.P.D. is the title of a half-hour American television crime drama of the 1960s set in the context of the New York City Police Department. The program appeared on the ABC network during the 1967-68 and 1968-69 television seasons. In both seasons, the program appeared in the evening, 9:30 p.m....
rejected Wallis's bid to renew his official press credentials, he sued New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the Police Department in a federal court
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
. Civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
attorney Norman Siegel
Norman Siegel
Norman Siegel was the director of the New York Civil Liberties Union , New York's leading civil rights organization, under the umbrella of the nationwide American Civil Liberties Union...
represented Wallis and two other journalists who had also been denied press credentials. The plaintiffs charged the City with violating their Constitutional Rights
Constitutional right
An inalienable right is a freedom granted by a Nature or the Creator's endowment by birth , and may not be legally denied by that government.-United States:...
. The City soon gave the three plaintiffs press credentials.
Published works
- Killed: Great Journalism Too Hot To Print, editor (Nation Books, 2004)
- Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression, editor (W.W. NortonW. W. NortonW. W. Norton & Company is an independent American book publishing company based in New York City. It is well known for its "Norton Anthologies", particularly the Norton Anthology of English Literature and the "Norton Critical Editions" series of texts which are frequently assigned in university...
2007)