Overview of Conflicts for Individual Journalists

Chapter 10:Conflicts of Interest: Divided Loyalties

Overview of Conflicts for Individual Journalists

Louis W. Hodges, “Conflict and the professional setting,” Media Ethics Magazine, Spring 2005, 21-22. The Washington and LeeUniversity professor analyzes the problem of conflict of interest in journalism.

The New York Times, Ethical Journalism: A Handbook of Values and Practices for the News and Editorial Departments, September 2004.

Bill Dedman, “Journalists dole cash to politicians (quietly),” msnbc.com, June 25, 2007.

An Appearance of a Conflict of Interest

Robert Pear, “Drug industry is told to stop gifts to doctors,” The New York Times, Oct. 1, 2002.

William Powers, “Who are we?”, nationaljournal.com, July 6, 2007. (Academic databases)

Charles W. Bailey, Conflicts of Interest: A Matter of Journalistic Ethics (Washington, D.C.: National News Council, 1984), 6.

John J. Hulteng, Playing It Straight (Washington, D.C.: American Society of Newspaper Editors, 1981), 25.

Kelly McBride, “Searching for the Threshold: Can gay and lesbian journalists cover same-sex marriages?”, poynteronline, June 16, 2008.

Problem Areas for Conflicts

Freebies:

Gary Tuma, Covering the Capitol: A century of news reporting in Pennsylvania, centennial history of Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents’ Association, 1895-1995 (Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents’ Association, 1996), 28-30.

Marie Hardin, “Boosterism and freebies are still problems for newspaper sports departments,” Newspaper Research Journal, Winter 2005. (Academic databases)

J. D. Lasica, “The cost of ethics: Influence peddling in the blogosphere,” Online Journalism Review, Feb. 17, 2005. What are the rules when commercial entities offer payments or freebies to get bloggers to write about them?

Julia Moskin, “Time columnist who wrote about his wedding says food and venue were free,” Diner’s Journal blog for The New York Times, June 23, 2010.

Patrick Gavin, “Journos’ favorite junket,” Politico, July 1, 2010. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, takes journalists to such locales as France, Mexico and Scotland to taste fine liquor.

Secondary income:

David Folkenflik, “Herald publisher quits, reporters reinstated,” National Public Radio, March 11, 2008. This is about the case of the El Nuevo Herald reporters who received pay for work for Radio Marti.

Joe Flint, “News anchors’ cameo roles could dent their credibility,” The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 2, 2005. Portraying a journalist in television dramas could come at a cost. (News databases)

Paul Farhi, “Research firm offers cash for journalists’ opinions on oil, gas industries,” The Washington Post, Dec. 16, 2010. A New York research firm offered a $250 “honorarium” for answering questions that could help the firm shape an advertising campaign.

Arthur S. Brisbane, “Public Editor’s Journal: Times curbs Pogue’s P.R. appearances,” The New York Times, July 6, 2011. After tech columnist David Pogue spoke before the Media Relations Summit, a public relations conference, a video of his speech was marketed. That led The Times to prohibit Pogue, a freelancer, from any speeches in which he advises “individuals or organizations how to deal successfully with the news media.”

Felix Salmon, “When journalists take money from Wall Street,” Columbia Journalism Review, March 20, 2012. The writer explores the standards of various news organizations on whether journalists can accept speaking fees.

Sylvia Stead, “Public Editor: Journalism, commercial interests should be kept separate,” The Globe and Mail, Sept. 27, 2012. The Toronto paper’s real estate section published an article in which a freelance columnist described her “charming red brick Victorian row house,” which was up for sale. Stead quoted Globe editors as saying the paper “shouldn’t run articles about the sale of an employee or freelancer’s house whether that article is written by that person or anyone else.”

Stead’s column contains a link to the article describing the house.

Jim Romenesko, “Reporter does consulting work for school district while covering it,” July 13, 2012. The Alexandria (Va.) Timesreported that Alexandria News co-founder and education reporter Carla Branch was covering the Alexandria City Public Schools while the school district paid her $75 an hour as a communications consultant. Branch said in an e-mail to Romenesko: “Had I believed it was a conflict, I would not have bid on the contract nor would I have openly discussed it with hundreds of people over the past six months. … The folks at the Alexandria Times were among the last to know.”

Armstrong Williams case:

Greg Toppo, “Education Dept. paid commentator to promote law,” USA Today, Jan. 6, 2005.

Howard Kurtz, “Writer backing Bush plan had gotten federal contract,” The Washington Post, Jan. 26, 2005.

Howart Kurtz, “Bush urges end to contracts with commentators,” The Washington Post, Jan. 27, 2005.

Jim Drinkard and Mark Memmott, “HHS said it paid columnist for help,” USA Today, Jan. 27, 2005.

Greg Toppo, “Commentator says he may return fees,” USA Today, Oct. 7, 2005.

GregToppo, “Pundit Armstrong Williams settles case over promoting education reforms,” USA Today, Oct. 22, 2006.

Taking a Public Position on Issues in the News

Paul Duke, “E-mail undoing,” American Journalism Review, September 2002. Should a Florida editor have lost her job after sending a reader a politically charged note?

“Seattle Times editor elaborates on newsroom cheering memo,” Romenesko Misc., Aug. 15, 2007.

Bob Steele, “A Pledge of Allegiance for journalists,” poynteronline, Sept. 20, 2001. Should news organizations display their spirit of patriotism during these extraordinarily difficult times. Should journalists wear their support of their country on their sleeves?

Kathryn S. Wenner, “Conflicts of interest: San Francisco Chronicle tech columnist Henry Norr is fired after he participates in an anti-war rally,” American Journalism Review, May 2003.

• Bob Steele, “When opposition becomes participation,” poynteronline, Feb. 21, 2003.

Howard Kurtz, “Post critic Page apologizes for e-mail remarks to Barry aide,” The Washington Post, Nov. 13, 2007. Tim Page, a music critic, sent an intemperate message to the mayor’s office after receiving an unsolicited press release.

Clark Hoyt, “Keeping their opinions to themselves,” The New York Times, Oct. 19, 2008. The public editor analyzes reader allegations of bias in political coverage.

Brian Stelter, “Newsman to speak at events of group opposed to health care plan,” The New York Times, October 28, 2009. John Stossel, who hosts a weekly program on Fox Business Network, delivered speeches in three Arkansas cities for the Americans for Prosperity.

Edward Schumacher-Matos, “Reporter-columnists tread fine line with readers’ trust,” The Miami Herald, April 25, 2010. The newspaper’s ombudsman questions whether reporters who write news stories should also write columns in which they express their opinions about the events and people they cover.

Kevin Woster, “KOTA anchorman temporarily sidelined after tea party appearance,” Rapid City Journal, April 27, 2010. The South Dakota television journalist was taken off the air after a speech at a Citizens for Liberty tax day rally.

Dylan Byers, “Chalian and the new industry standard,” Politico, Aug. 29, 2012. David Chalian, Yahoo News’ political news director, was fired “hours after video surfaced on the Internet in which he was heard saying that Mitt Romney and his wife Ann were ‘happy to have a party with black people drowning’ – a reference to the GOP convention and Hurricane Isaac.” Chalian acknowledged that his “hot mike” remark was “inappropriate and thoughtless.” In reporting Yahoo’s action, Byers wrote: “[T]he decision was in keeping with the fearful, risk-averse attitude that many media organizations have shown over recent years when faced with controversy.”

Dave Levinthal and Tarini Parti, “Journalists open wallets for Obama and Romney,” Politico, Nov. 3, 2012. Journalists whose names appeared in public records were interviewed about their contributions.

Slate, “Slate votes: Obama wins our staff,” Nov. 5, 2012. Of 37 staffers who responded to the web magazine’s invitation to say whom they were voting for and why, 31 said they were voting for Obama. This is the third consecutive presidential election in which Slate’s staff members have made the disclosures. Editor David Plotz said: “I don’t think Obama'sSlatevictory reflects a bias that has corrupted the magazine during the campaign. There are obvious reasons whySlatewould lean heavily toward Obama. Slate’s voters tend to skew young and all polls show younger voters favoring the Democrat. And we are journalists.”

Robert J. Vickers, “Why I’m voting for Mitt Romney,” The Patriot-News, Nov. 2, 2012. The Harrisburg, Pa., newspaper’s political writer reveals his choice for president and comments: “Though I’ve never publicly shared my choice before, I’m doing so now as a catharsis of how I came to my decision, not to influence anyone else.”

• Andrew Beaujon, “Patriot-NewsM.E. says column about Romney vote was ‘a hard sell’,” poynteronline, Nov. 2, 2012. The editor, Mike Feeley, said the initial response was no, but “[e]ventually we supported his decision. We demand transparency on how public officials do their job and spend taxpayer money. And I like the idea of reflecting that same kind of transparency … .” Vickers is quoted in this article as saying that “the journalistic/political landscape has changed.”

Linda Greenhouse speech at Harvard:

David Folkenflik, “Critics question reporter’s airing of personal views,” National Public Radio, Sept. 26, 2006. A report on Linda Greenhouse’s comments in a speech at Harvard.

Byron Calame, “Hazarding personal opinions in public can be hazardous for journalists,” The New York Times, Oct. 8, 2006.

Postings on social media:

Stephanie Gleason, “Going public: Should journalists express their political views on social networking sites?”, American Journalism Review, December/January 2010. The author surveys opinion on the question, noting that journalists have traditionally avoided taking public positions on the news. The author frames the debate with another question: “[D]oes that uncompromising stance make any sense in the freewheeling digital age, marked as it is by the impassioned political debate of the blogosphere and an almost religious commitment to transparency?”

John Morton, “Staying Neutral: Journalists should not reveal their political views, Twitter or no Twitter, American Journalism Review, December-January 2010.

Jim Romenesko, “AP warns staff about expressing opinions on social networks,” poynteronline, July 27, 2011; updated July 28, 2011. Tom Kent, AP’s deputy managing editor for standards and production, wrote in a staff memo: “Associated Press journalists have tweeted opinions about the Casey Anthony trial and the New York Senate vote on gay marriage.” Kent said the posts undermined the credibility of the AP staff and “AP staffers should not make postings … that amount to personal opinions on contentious public issues.”

Steve Myers, “AP updates social media guidelines a week after warning staff about expressing opinions,” poynteronline, July 13, 2011.

Jim Romenesko, “Reporter resigns after posting Chick-fil-A rant on Facebook,” Aug. 2, 2012. The paper’s executive editor said his posting was “inappropriate” and “hurts our credibility.”

Radio Television Digital News Association, “Social media and blogging guidelines,” Oct. 22, 2012.

Jeff Sonderman, “Some news orgs’ social media policies are on shaky legal ground,” poynteronline, Jan. 22, 2013. Reviews decisions by the National Labor Relations Board in cases in which employees lost their jobs because of social-media activities.

Nisha Chittal, “Journalists share arguments for, against using same-sex marriage symbols on social media profiles,” poynteronline, March 27, 2013. Some journalists joined the social-media initiative urging Facebook users to change their profile pictures to a red “equal” sign to show their support for marriage equality. The writer explores the question of whether this compromises the journalists’ neutrality.

Civic Activities

David Folkenflik, “Citizen Jayne: Baltimore’s best TV journalist believes she can balance her on-air reporting and her off-camera activism. But should she?” The Sun, Feb. 25, 2001.(news databases)

Greg Braxton, “TV reporter Lu Parker plays by her own set of rules,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 21, 2010. “The KTLA reporter is dating L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, advocating for causes and promoting herself in ways that critics say is a problem for her professional reputation. Parker says media standards have to change with the times.”

Relationships With Sources

Phil Sheridan, “Baseball writers wrong to exercise their right to vote,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 8, 2005. Discusses the Baseball Writers of America’s longtime involvement with baseball’s Hall of Fame. (News databases)

The Associated Press, “AP made call with poll’s integrity in mind,” espn.com, Dec. 21, 2004.AP refuses to allow BCS to use its poll in compiling college football bowl rankings.

Max Frankel, The Times of My Lifeand My Life With The Times (New York: Random House, 1999). Frankel discusses the question of critics’ and sportswriters’ voting on awards for the people they cover, 515-516.

Howard Kurtz, “Journalists say their White House advice crossed no line,” The Washington Post, Jan. 29, 2005. Two conservative commentators privately offered advice to aides of President George W. Bush; they said it was perfectly proper conduct for commentators.

Roni Caryn Rabin, “Conflicts of interest may ensnare journalists, too,” The New York Times, Nov. 22, 2008. By accepting industry-sponsored awards and relying on corporate public relations offices, health reporters may become entangled in the same kind of ethical conflicts they often expose.

Kate Zernike, “Between journalist and advocate: The Amanda Knox case,” The New York Times, Oct. 7, 2011. This article was written after an Italian court freed Amanda Knox, an American exchange student who had been convicted of killing her roommate. Zernike writes that journalist Nina Burleigh gave numerous television interviews after the court’s decision in which she vehemently defended Knox. According to Zernike, “Ms. Burleigh sseemed at times to move from journalist to advocate, treading what she knew, as a longtime reporter and author, was a dangerous line.”

Case Study No. 5: Covering Police, Wearing Their Uniform

Joe Kimball, “Working as a cop, she’ll keep a Lowe profile,” The Star Tribune, July 18, 2003. (News databases)

Brian Lambert, “Reporter-turned-copy walks thin blue line,” The Pioneer Press, July 22, 2003. (News databases)

Lambert, “Reporter conflict is in the eye of the beholder,” The Pioneer Press,July 25, 2003. (News databases)

Case Study No. 6: Carrying the Torch, Stirring Controversy

Lee Benson, “Torch run just isn’t conflicting,” Deseret News, Jan. 9, 2002. (News databases)

Case Study No. 8: A Love Triangle on the Evening News

Duke Helfand and Steve Hymon, “Mayor reveals romantic link with TV newscaster,” Los Angeles Times, July 4, 2007. (News databases)

Duke Helfand and Meg James, “Telemundo reassigns mayor’s girlfriend,” Los Angeles Times, Sept. 25, 2007. (News databases)

Shawn Hubler, “The mayor and his mistress,” Los Angeles Magazine, May 2008. [News databases]

Additional Case Studies

Mideast reporter’s Facebook comments: Margaret Sullivan, “Problems with a reporter’s Facebook posts, and a possible solution,” Public Editor’s Journal in The New York Times, Nov. 28, 2012. Jodi Rudoren, the new Jerusalem bureau chief for The Times, posted Facebook comments about her beat that critics seized on as evidence of bias. This prompted the paper to assign an editor on the foreign desk to work closely with her on her social media posts. Sullivan wrote, “The idea is to capitalize on the promise of social media engagement with readers while not exposing The Times to a reporter’s unfiltered and unedited thoughts.”

• Joe Coscarelli, “New York Times Israel reporter assigned social media babysitter,” New York Magazine Online, Nov. 28, 2012. “[T]he larger issue at play is the Times’ commitment to the spirit of objectivity, a charade that gets harder to keep up as reporters are allowed – and encouraged! – to sound off on various platforms constantly, interact with readers, and work out ideas in public forums.”
• Glenn Greenwald, “Times bureau chief in Jerusalem will now have her Facebook entries edited,” The Guardian, Nov. 28, 2012. “The reality is that all human beings – even including journalists – see the world through a subjective prism, and it is impossible to completely divorce one’s assumptions and biases and cultural and political beliefs from one’s observations and ‘reporting.’ Having a window into what Sullivan calls ‘the unfiltered and unedited thoughts of journalists’ is of crucial value in knowing that these biases exist and in knowing what they are – which is precisely why the New York Times acted so quickly to slam that window shut.”

A son’s decision:The 20-year-old son of Ethan Bronner, chief of The New York Times’Jerusalem bureau, enlisted in the Israeli military. Bronner’s critics portrayed this as a conflict of interest for the reporter and called for The Times to reassign him. Executive editor Bill Keller declined to do so, although the paper’s public editor, Clark Hoyt, thought Bronner should have been reassigned to avoid the appearance of conflict. [See separate file in this folder.]