Ethics Newsline®

Some object to choice for moderator of Palin-Obama debate, a journalist who is writing a book on Obama; a popular CNN election-show anchor’s ‘rant’ raises objectivity questions; ethics dilemmas await reporters who plan to buy tickets for Obama fund-raising concerts

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK
Issues of objectivity of the press were raised in several news reports last week. Among them:

• Last week’s highly anticipated vice-presidential debate had a media-ethics angle: Some were critical of the choice of moderator Gwen Ifill on the grounds that she is writing a book that will deal partly with Barack Obama. According to the International Herald Tribune, Ifill says she has not yet written the chapter on Obama in her book, titled “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.” She differed with descriptions of the book as “pro-Obama.” The paper notes that scrutiny and criticism of debate moderators appears to be more intense this year, perhaps as an outgrowth of the unusually intense, hard-fought, and close campaign.
• Cable-TV news programs are dealing with questions of impartiality in the election season, with the most recent controversy centering on CNN’s Campbell Brown, who hosts the network’s “Election Center.” The New York Times reports that the questions center on Brown’s self-described “rant” on her show in which she said that Sarah Palin should be cut loose from what Brown claims are overcautious and sexist handlers. The video became a sensation on the Internet, but also caused problems for CNN, which has attempted to cultivate an atmosphere of objectivity, in contrast to the loud advocacy of some other cable networks, according to the Times.
• Newspaper trade journal Editor & Publisher reports that there’s something of an ethical-practices showdown looming as reporters and editors ponder the consequences of buying tickets to Obama benefit concerts, including one featuring superstars Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. Editor & Publisher writer Joe Strupp points out: “Four years ago, a series of concerts by Springsteen and others that were touted as fundraisers for then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry sparked debate over what constitutes conflict of interest and personal activities…. The St. Paul Pioneer Press suspended two reporters in 2004 for attending one of the pro-Kerry “Vote for Change” concerts that raised money for political causes. The move prompted a formal grievance at the time by the Newspaper Guild.” According to the Editor & Publisher report, some papers, such as the Washington Post and Miami Herald, banned all employees from attending the 2004 concerts. Others, such as the Detroit Free Press, banned attendance by reporters directly involved in political coverage, while some, including the Cleveland Plain Dealer, imposed no bans at all, saying the events were more entertainment than advocacy.

Sources: New York Times, Oct. 4 — International Herald Tribune, Oct. 2 — Editor & Publisher, Oct. 2.

For more information, see: Related Newsline story, Sep. 29 — Related Newsline story, Sep. 22 — Related Newsline story, Sep. 15 — Related Newsline story, Sep. 15 — Related Newsline story, Sep. 8.