When journalists go bad *

I was profoundly dismayed to read MSNBC's list of 144 journalists who have contributed to political campaigns . But even more than that, I was suprised that so many were newspaper reporters. You kinda expect that from TV people.

Shame on them. Rule No. 1 is not to enter into conflicts of interest. And I don't know what's more C of I than donatintg to a political campaign. Copy editors and designers are less shameful, but reporters covering the Iraq war? That's bad.

I did enjoy seeing LA Timesers on the list. I guess the general haughtiness of the staff there doesn't necessarily extend to ethical excellence. II'd like to point out with some smugness that there are no L.A. Daily Newers, and not just because they don't pay us enough to be giving any away. There aren't any MediaNews companies (which owns the DN) on the list either.

Special wag of the finger to Randy Cohen ethics columnist for The New York Times.

UPDATE: On closer reading, there were a couple Media News paper employees listed. My bad:

San Jose Mercury News, Rachel Wilner, sports editor, $250 to John Kerry in June 2004.

Wilner said her understanding was that the paper's policy allows contributions unless it would present the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Robert Taylor, fine arts reporter, $500 to the Democratic National Committee, October 2004.

"I write about visual arts for the Times," Taylor said. "I'm a features writer and reviewer. If I were a political reporter, I might have made a different decision."