some newspapers barring reporters from covering Springsteen

[donsu]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000652114

Another Brick in the Wall Keeping Journos from Political Concerts


Another memo was issued today in the ongoing Right to Attend a Political Fundraiser saga now running in select newsrooms.

As E&P has reported on numerous occasions, several newspapers have issued orders to all or some staffers barring them from attending the just-beginning Vote for Change concert tour, featuring star acts such as Bruce Sprignsteen, Pearl Jam, James Taylor, the Dixie Chicks, and much more. Newspapers are concerned attendance at these pro-Kerry concerts may conflict with ethical rules against donating to candidates.

Today, employees at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch received one of the dreaded memos -- as had staffers The Washington Post, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Denver's Rocky Mountain News, and several other papers in recent weeks.

-snip-

But executives added: "If you do attend, however, understand this: You cannot participate in local or national election coverage in any way -- whether it's writing stories, editing copy, writing headlines, taking photographs, or designing pages. If you attend, we expect you to tell your supervisor so we don't inadvertently put you in an unacceptable position.
-snip-
--------------------------------------


the executives final word: "Basically, the issue is this: We cannot compromise our journalistic integrity."


what crapola

[Philostopher]

1. What a load of shite!

All they'd have to do is send their entertainment reporters. Dayton Daily News did. That's what you keep an entertainment section staff for, right? You don't put those guys/gals on serious election reporting, anyway. Just another excuse to exercise political clout by appearing to be even-handed. Jerks.

[goodboy]

2. Gotta Love GOP "freedom"

[skygazer]

3. How does covering a news event

compromise your journalistic intregrity (a phrase that has become more and more of an oxymoron anyway)?

[OneTwentyoNine]

5. Thats what I can't get out of the article...

Are they talking about going as an individual off work or are they talking about going as a reporter??

Hmmm,did any of their reports go to a Toby Keith concert when he was pimping up the War for Bush?? Just curious....


David

[SemperEadem]

9. this I dont' get when it comes to newspapers...

their faces aren't broadcast over the airwaves, so no one would know who they were unless they were wearing press credentials with their name spelled out on the tags. No one would be able to draw an inference between the two.

For broadcast, yes, I can understand the edict because some people--believe it or not--don't do well in differentiating between the on-air personality and the off-air person, and for them to attand the concert would, in the minds of some, mean that their attendence speaks to the station's political stance--and the station needs to be as politically neutral as possible--not always a successful endeavor, but in theory, that's what's supposed to be the consideration.

Sending the entertainmnet reporter to cover a huge concert attracting tens of thousands of people in a medium sized city is journalistically responsible... acting like an event with this kind of draw is unimportant and issuing threats barring any kind of coverage of an event like this is irresponsible and borderline lying.

[bvar22]

4. These same **ethical concerns**

would prohibit attendance and reporting of virtually ALL bush*/cheney* campaign appearances where only loyal republicans are allowed to attend.

[drunkdriver-in-chief]

6. What if they work for a newspaper that supports a candidate?

Does that compromise them too? I guess every reporter who paid to see F-911 is also compromised! This is crazy. The rockers-for-kerry movement is a story and should be covered.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Is the issue "donating" to candidates?

"Newspapers are concerned attendance at these pro-Kerry concerts may conflict with ethical rules against donating to candidates." I don't think most newspapers allow reporters to make political contributions.

As for coverage, I've read reports about the concerts from newspapers. So are they allowing reporters to attend on assignment?

[vickie]

8. Does anyone know how this concert went?

Was it well attended? Did Bruuuuuuucccee rock? Inquiring mids want to know..........

[SayitAintSo]

10. My Company (a southern Utility Co.) forbids campaign buttons....

Or any type of political paraphernalia. This is the first time this has come out in my long tenure there. I find it very disconcerting.

In the past, the upper management has been very pro republican. Our CEO was co campaign chair for John McCain in 2000. Now ? poof... no one is allowed to show any political association ( I still have my Kerry sticker on my car).

I wonder if that is a move by the repugs to suppress the public rising tide of Kerry / Edwards support...


edit for typo