Massey Energy boss mixes it up with national and local reporters for two and a half hours

Don Blankenship, whose tenure as CEO of Massey Energy has been marked by contentious relations with the news media, spent two and a half hours with an invited group of national and local journalists yesterday in an effort to make the case that the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration could share responsibility for the April explosion that killed 29 miners at Massey's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia.

"Despite dozens of wide-ranging questions, Blankenship kept returning to several central themes: news stories about the coal mining giant unfairly suggest blame; reporters should focus more attention on the failures of federal regulators; and those regulators are keeping Massey from operating safely and determining the true cause of the massive explosion," which Massey argues was caused by an inpredictable infusion of natural gas through the mine floor, Howard Berkes reports for National Public Radio. (Berkes photo)

Blankenship said at the outset that he might turn the tables and ask questions of reporters, and "During persistent and probing questioning from Ken Ward of the Charleston Gazette [left, 2005 photo], Blankenship fired back," Berkes reports:

"What do you think happened, Ken?" Blankenship asked.
Ward considered an answer for a moment, and then responded, "I might be able to answer if you would provide the documents I've been seeking [from Massey]."
Blankenship said he wasn't sure he could turn over the documents, which further describe the discussions between MSHA and Massey over natural gas infusions.

For Ward's reports on the encounter, click here.