NEW YORK Staffers at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and members of the St. Louis Newspaper Guild are expected to gather outside the newspaper on Tuesday as a show of support for investigative reporter Carolyn Tuft.

The noontime rally is scheduled the day before Tuft, a 14-year Post-Dispatch veteran, begins arbitration over her temporary suspension that occurred last year.

At the gathering Tuft, Guild President Jeff Gordon, and Ed Bishop, editor of the St. Louis Journalism Review will speak about "freedom of speech" said Tuft.

The heart of the issue involves a series of stories that Tuft wrote about the Fenton, Mo.-based Joyce Meyer Ministries in late April and early May of 2005. Representatives for the ministry said the articles contained several inaccuracies. The Post-Dispatch ran a 577-word letter of apology to readers regarding two of Tuft stories. A week later, Post-Dispatch management suspended Tuft for five days without pay, later reducing the sentence to two days.

Tuft served the sentence last summer.

"I want them to correct the record that I was never unfair or unprofessional," explained Tuft. "I want my career back and my credibility."

Shannon Duffy, business representative of the St. Louis Newspaper Guild, claimed the Post-Dispatch didn't back Tuft because the Joyce Meyer Ministries threatened to sue the paper. "We believed the paper just caved," Duffy said. "That's huge for us, the fact the paper won't stand behind employees."

Mark Sutherland, a public relations director for the ministries, told E&P in June 2005 that no legal action was ever threatened, however, a lawyer was involved in the discussions that eventually led to the correction.

Post-Dispatch Editor Arnie Robbins, who was managing editor of the paper until December, said he cannot comment on personnel issues but said that the paper has always "vigorously supported" its reporters.

"We have explored efforts to resolve this but we were unable to despite discussions on both sides," Robbins said later adding, "To Carolyn;s credit, she has done some very good work this year."

Duffy explained it could take a few weeks to a couple of months for an independent arbitrator to make a decision about the matter. "Carolyn wants her reputation back," he said.

He expects a good turnout for tomorrow's rally, noting that 133 people signed a petition last year protesting Tuft's treatment.