Media,  Politics

Ron Brownstein: Disclosure or Conflict of Interest? – LA Times Ethics Guidelines

Previously at Flap’s Blog: Ron Brownstein: Disclosure or Conflict of Interest? – REDUX

John Carroll, Editor of the Los Angeles Times yesterday issued nine pages of ethical guidelines, Los Angeles Times Ethics Guidelines.

The goal of the Los Angeles Times is to publish a newspaper of the highest quality. This requires The Times to be, above all else, a principled newspaper. Making it so is the responsibility of every staff member. In deed and in appearance, journalists at The Times must keep themselves – and the newspaper – above reproach.

Sounds good…a worthy goal.

The Ethics Guidelines continue:

Editorial employees may not use their positions at the paper to promote personal agendas or causes. Nor should they allow their outside activities to undermine the impartiality of Times coverage, in fact or appearance.

Staff members may not engage in political advocacy – as members of a campaign or an organization specifically concerned with political change. Nor may they contribute money to a partisan campaign or candidate. No staff member may run for or acceptappointment to any public office.

Staff members should avoid public expressions or demonstrations of their political views – bumper stickers, lawn signs and the like.

While The Times does not seek to restrict staff members’ participation in civic life orjournalistic organizations, they should be aware that outside affiliations and membershipsmay create real or apparent ethical conflicts. When those affiliations have even theslightest potential to damage the newspaper’s credibility, staff members should proceed with caution and take care to advise supervisors.

Now, this is almost laughable given the way the Los Angeles Times covers stories.

A laudable goal but the LA Times has a long way to go.

On personal relationships:

Activities of family members may create conflicts of interest. The Times recognizes that it has no authority to restrict the activities of spouses, companions or close relativesof Times staff members who do not themselves work for the newspaper. However, the paper may restrict a staff member’s assignment based on the activities of a family member or loved one. Staff members are responsible for informing a supervisor
whenever a companion’s or close relative’s activities, investments or affiliations couldcreate a conflict.

As Flap previously opined:

Flap doesn’t care how well Brownstein writes. He has a conflict of interest and should step down from his current beat – or the Los Angeles Times should reassign him.

Will John Carroll have the integrity to initiate the reassignment or will he defer to Kinsley?

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