Journalists and political donations

Because we're all on welfare? (j/k)

 

I just wonder what $500 worth of Skittles would look like. ...

 

OK, let me make things murky again...

If people see us as extensions of our newspapers, then why can newspapers get away with endorsing candidates? Should we as journalists not should push for an end to it?

And as for donating to "causes," what about those of us who are forced to "donate" to TNG? The Guild cheerleads for one party just as fervently as the other organizations I named above.

 

As I recall, there was a lot of talk around here in 2004 that newspapers should stop endorsing candidates. I agree.

 

I'm with Wingman. There's no proof that newspaper endorsments influence anybody's votes, and it opens the paper up for more solid (IMHO) charges of bias.

 

http://www.journalismprofessor.com/2007/06/on-journalists-and-political-donations.html

That Chris Daly is one smart dude. And no, I'm not Chris Daly, but it does look like he cruises SportsJournalists.com, and good for him.

 

Good reporters (generally) distrust authority, take stands for the little guy/gal and are fairly cynical. Those are traits that you don't associate with being a conservative. Plus, the fact that this profession doesn't pay jack tends to scare off those who celebrate the free market enterprise system.

 

My daughter wanted to put a Hillary sticker on her car. I had to tell her not to do so because once in a great while, my wife or I take her car to work. All that would be needed is some wing nut taking pictures of cars going into the company lot to show "liberal bias" on the part of the people there.

Yes, we give up some things by being journalists. Yes, it's worth it.

 

Give money? What? I vote. That's plenty. Although I did loan my car to my son while he was a volunteer for Deval Patrick last fall. Is that a donation in kind?

 

It's worth checking the comments on his article as well. The MSNBC reporter who wrote the piece responds to some of Daly' criticisms.