Tax Dollars Pay for News Coverage

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Honolulu Advertiser

Visitors bureau pays for KITV's trip to Japan
Posted on: Wednesday, July 9, 2003

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

In an unusual arrangement, the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau is covering the airfare and hotel bills of the television reporting team that is accompanying Gov. Linda Lingle to Japan.

The HVCB, which receives about 90 percent of its money from state taxpayers, has budgeted $200,000 for the trip, including travel expenses for a reporter and cameraman from KITV-4, the ABC affiliate.

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The arrangement is considered unusual because it essentially involves government officials arranging for news coverage of themselves. To avoid the appearance of conflict, news organizations usually pay their own way, especially when covering stories involving politicians and government officials.

Gerald Kato, a former newspaper and television reporter who is an associate professor of journalism at the University of Hawai'i, said the deal raises many questions.

"If someone has a direct interest in getting coverage for the trip, that raises all kinds of concerns about media independence," he said.

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1. An even more literal example of media whoring

WTF?