[Miami Herald] Minn. Newspaper Suspends Two Reporters

Has this kinda sh*t happened before GWB The Uniter was Prez, going back to the Red Scare of the 50s?

Minn. Newspaper Suspends Two Reporters
Associated Press

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Two newspaper reporters who went to see the Boss perform at a political fund-raising concert got in trouble with their own boss.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press suspended investigative reporters Chuck Laszewski and Rick Linsk for three days each after they attended the Oct. 5 "Vote for Change" concert by Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M. and other artists at Xcel Energy Center.

The Newspaper Guild is contesting the unpaid suspensions.

Pioneer Press Editor Vicki Gowler wrote in a Sept. 27 memo to staff that the paper's ethics policy bars them from activities that would conflict with their employment, including "concerts that are held as political fundraisers." Several other newspapers had issued similar warnings to reporters.

Gowler did not return a phone message seeking comment Tuesday.

Laszewski said the e-mail referred to weekend, general assignment, and political reporters. He said he figured he was in the clear because he's on the investigative team.

"It was fabulous," Laszewski said of the concert. "It's getting to be exorbitantly expensive for me, but it was terrific."

The reporters already served their suspensions, but the Guild is trying to get the punishment overturned.

Guild executive officer Mike Sweeney said the Pioneer Press refused to change its position during a meeting Monday. He expects the matter to go to arbitration.

Sweeney said Laszewski was on the committee that pressed for an ethics policy in 2000.

"We're not saying the company doesn't have a right to be concerned about the ethics, and the off-duty behavior of its reporters," Sweeney said. "But they have to meet a standard. We can't allow a company to subjectively decide what is or is not a conflict."

 

Reading between the lines, I am sure that GWB was on the horn to the St. Paul Pioneer Press owner, demanding these two be suspended. (I have as much evidence for this as GWB does for prewar Iraq's nukulur program).

 

Gotta agree here. When in doubt, blame W.

But seriously, was this type of "ethics" policy and enforcement common before GWB? I eagarly await the "911 changed everything" reply,

 

"We're not saying the company doesn't have a right to be concerned about the ethics, and the off-duty behavior of its reporters," Sweeney said. "But they have to meet a standard. We can't allow a company to subjectively decide what is or is not a conflict."

 

Also

Laszewski said the e-mail referred to weekend, general assignment, and political reporters. He said he figured he was in the clear because he's on the investigative team.

BTW, where are the stories of the flip side? like reporters attending pro-Bush events in their spare time?

 

the "blame bush" crowd loses a lot of credibility with something like this.

GWB has set this type of tone by the actions of his Administration. GWB not only does not tolerate dissent; he actively punishes those that do.

 

So when the Dixie Chicks get banned from Clear Channel radio stations, there is no political angle at all? despite the close ties with the Bush Admin?

The St. Paul Pioneer Press story smacks of either incompetence or retribution. The owners may very well be Democrats. I do not know. It is just that this is a type of story I don't remember reading about 10 years ago.

Alos, given the consolidation in broadcasting, it is not far fetch to assume that the very corporate, very Republicans owners are taking cues from the Prez on how to run their shops. This is speculation on my part, but not without some merit.

 

I did not take it that way.

BTW, my tongue was in my cheek when I wrote "when in doubt, blame bush". Consolidation in broadcasting and vicious political infighting both happened on Clinton's watch. I have changed my mind; it must be Clinton's fault.