Andy Lightbody

This article is part of SpinWatch's Terrorism Experts project.

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Andy Lightbody (born DATE, PLACE) is ... (INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION)

Record and controversies

After exposing Lightbody the Times reproted the fallout:

KNX radio has "severed relations" with Andy Lightbody, the all-news station's military and aerospace editor, following a Los Angeles Times profile that raised questions about his credentials. Station news director Robert Sims said he was "concerned" by the issues raised in The Times story but declined further comment. Lightbody, reached Tuesday at his home in Irvine, said he had no comment.

The announcement that Lightbody was dropped came in a one-sentence electronic message issued by Sims to KNX editors on April 2, the day after The Times article appeared...

In a statement that followed the article, he said he has "logged hundreds of hours of flight time" and that his "ability to 'fly and fly-in' a host of military aircraft is well known. My decision not to seek various flight ratings is strictly a personal one. It has never been the subject of question with the military in my covering subjects related to high performance aircraft."

While Lightbody was reporting on defense, aerospace and high technology issues for KNX, which is owned and operated by CBS, he also was reporting for Fox Channel 11 and the Financial News Network on cable. A spokesman for the CBS Radio Stations News Service in Washington, which had been distributing Lightbody's reports to other network-owned affiliates and had been discussing a syndicated, high-technology program, declined to comment on Lightbody's status.

Dick Tuininga, news director for Fox Channel 11 where Lightbody had been a contract employee until March 31 serving as a military analyst, would not say whether Lightbody's contract has been renewed. He did say, though, that "currently, we do not have anything on the burner for him." In the future, "we would use him as the need arises," Tuininga said.

Lightbody also was averaging $10,000 a month in speakers fees, mostly from defense contractors, according to his agent, Lilly Walters of Pasadena. However, in a subsequent letter to The Times, Lightbody said the $10,000 figure was "a misrepresentation," adding, "I only wish my talents would be in such demand." Lightbody said his speaking engagements go "far beyond" the defense community. "I regularly address everyone from civic groups to international corporations and associations. Many have not relation to the 'military' at all," he said.

According to Lawrence soley, Lightbody was also 'shunned' by 'reporters who had previously believed Lightbody to be one of the country's leading military experts'

However, the isolation did not last long. The LA Times reported on 5 July 1991 that Lightbody

dropped as military and aerospace editor at KNX-AM radio following reports that he fudged his academic and military credentials, is on the air again. The Irvine resident's "Technology Reports" can now be heard weeknights on XEKAM-950 AM, a high-powered Tijuana station covering Southern California. . . . Station manager Luis Alvarado is unconcerned about Lightbody's resume: "We're always getting viable information from Andy."

Personal information

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Resources

• Los Angeles Times articles Andy Lightbody