Chapter 10: Conflicts of Interest: Divided Loyalties
Overview
Louis W. Hodges, “Conflict and the professional setting,” Media Ethics Magazine, Spring 2005 16, 2, 7, 21–2. The Washington and Lee University professor analyzes the problem of conflict of interest in journalism. http://media.www.mediaethicsmagazine.com/media/storage/paper655/news/2005/05/05/AnalysesCommentary/Conflict.And.The.Professional.Setting-959320.shtml
The New York Times, Ethical Journalism: A Handbook of Values and Practices for the News and Editorial Departments, September 2004. http://nytco.com/pdf/NYT_Ethical_Journalism_0904.pdf
Bill Dedman, “Journalists dole out cash to politicians (quietly),” msnbc.com, June 25, 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113485/
Radio Television News Directors Association, “Guidelines for avoiding conflict of interest.” Asks a series of questions that journalists should consider in assessing the possibility of a real or perceived conflict. http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/guidelines-for-avoiding-conflict-of-interest1605.php
Joe Strupp, “New [Wall Street Journal] conduct rules target Twitter, Facebook,” Editor & Publisher, May 13, 2009. (News databases)
Joe Strupp, “Tweet and sour? Newspapers set new rules for social networking,” Editor & Publisher, June 15, 2009. Many editors are not sure how to police the growing Twitter trend and Facebook “friending” phenomenon. (News databases)
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. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E7D81238F932A35753C1A9649C8B63
William Powers, “Who are we?”, nationaljournal.com, July 6, 2007. (Academic databases)
Charles W. Bailey, Conflicts of Interest: A Matter of Journalistic Ethics (Washington, DC: National News Council, 1984), 6.
John J. Hulteng, Playing It Straight (Washington, DC: 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. http://poynteronline.org/column.asp?id=53
A prototypical example of disclosure: MinnPost.com and its key players tell about themselves. http://www.minnpost.com/about/
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)
Aly Cólon, “The cost of a free trip,” poynteronline, June 17, 2004. A reporter gives back a free trip she won in a drawing. http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=36&aid=67241
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? http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050217lasica/
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. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6189886
Howard Kurtz, “Post photographer repays group for trip expenses,” The Washington Post, Oct. 12, 2006. To the photographer, it was a vacation lark in which his only role was to drive the RV and to take a few pictures. But to The Post’s executive editor, the online travelogue was a violation of the paper's policy on outside work. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101101658.html
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)
Armstrong Williams case:
Greg Toppo, “Education Dept. paid commentator to promote law,” USA Today, Jan. 6, 2005. www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-06-williams-whitehouse_x.htm
Howard Kurtz, “Writer backing Bush plan had gotten federal contract,” The Washington Post, Jan. 26, 2005. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36545-2005Jan25.html
Howart Kurtz, “Bush urges end to contracts with commentators,” The Washington Post, Jan. 27, 2005. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39872-2005Jan26.html
Jim Drinkard and Mark Memmott, “HHS said it paid columnist for help,” USA Today, Jan. 27, 2005. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-27-hhs_x.htm
Greg Toppo, “Commentator says he may return fees,” USA Today, Oct. 7, 2005. www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-10-03-williams-fees_x.htm
GregToppo, “Pundit Armstrong Williams settles case over promoting education reforms,” USA Today, Oct. 22, 2006. www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-20-williams_x.htm
Taking a Public Position on Issues in the News
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? http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=5897
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. http://www.ajr.org/article_printable.asp?id=3004
Bob Steele, “When opposition becomes participation,” poynteronline, Feb. 21, 2003. http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=36&aid=21425
“Seattle Times editor elaborates on newsroom cheering memo,” Romenesko Misc., Aug. 15, 2007. http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=128555
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? www.ajr.org/article_printable.asp?id=2599
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. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/opinion/19pubed.html
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. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/12/AR2007111201906.html
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. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6146693
Byron Calame, “Hazarding personal opinions in public can be hazardous for journalists,” The New York Times, Oct. 8, 2006. www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/opinion/08pubed.html
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, “Radcliffe Institute Medalist 2006: Linda Greenhouse,” June 9, 2006. Text of the speech by the New York Times reporter. http://www.radcliffe.edu/alumnae/radday2006_greenhousespeech.aspx#
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. http://www.geocities.com/grantorino.geo/jmiller022501.htm?200822
Relationships With Sources
National Turf Writers Association, “Eclipse Award for filly or mail sprinter added for 2007,” Feb. 16, 2007. http://www.turfwriters.org/news/
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. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1951112
Max Frankel, The Times of My Life and 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, 515–16.
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. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/22/health/22journalists.html?ref=health
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. (News databases)
Case Study No. 5: Covering Police, Wearing Their Uniform
“About Caroline Lowe,” biographical sketch: http://wcco.com/bios/caroline.lowe.reporter.9.340625.html
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. http://www.lamag.com/article.aspx?id=1112