Post ombudsman: Kurtz's CNN work is an "inescapable conflict that is at odds with" paper's rules
October 31, 2009 8:19 pm ET by Media Matters staff
From Washington Post ombudsman Andrew Alexander's November 1 column:
The Post's Howard Kurtz, arguably the nation's premier media writer, for many years has hosted the Sunday morning CNN press program "Reliable Sources." He often is criticized by bloggers and readers because he's paid by CNN, which he also covers.
Kurtz, a workhorse of a reporter, has a sizable following in print, online and on the air. But being paid by CNN presents an inescapable conflict that is at odds with Post rules. They state that a reporter or editor "cannot accept payment from any person, company or organization that he or she covers." There can be exceptions for some groups, such as broadcast organizations, "unless the reporter or editor is involved in coverage of them."
Kurtz, the Post media writer since 1990, got approval to appear on "Reliable Sources" about 15 years ago from then-Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr.
"My track record makes clear that I've been as aggressive toward CNN -- and The Washington Post, for that matter -- as I would be if I didn't host a weekly program there," Kurtz said. He discloses his CNN affiliation at the end of his columns and relevant news stories for The Post. And he's identified with The Post on "Reliable Sources."
Still, would The Post allow a reporter who covers energy to be paid on the side by a big oil company?
Previously:
CNN removes criticism of Dobbs from interview; will WaPo's Howard Kurtz cover story?
If only bloggers had the Washington Post's high ethical standards
Mr. Alexander, call your office: Kurtz again gives CNN a pass for Birtherism
Kurtz stays silent about Klein; WaPo Ombudsman silent about Kurtz
Howard "Conflict of Interest" Kurtz still silent about CNN boss
Howard Kurtz's conflict of interest gets more glaring by the day
Media Matters: The Palin chronicles
The Friday Rush: A series of conflicts
Contrary to media hype, Sarah Palin is very unpopular
Alexander here allows Kurtz to save face by burying relevant facts. Not just that Kurtz hasn't been aggressive towards CNN, but that he sucks egregiously at his job as a whole.
Not quite, steeve; there seems to be no delicacy about savaging Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, or Ed Schultz by the very same people who are afraid to get too near Rupert Murdoch's toes...
But I haven't watched the media in years, so it'd be a blind bet.
Isn't it like being a weather man - no penalty for being wrong ?
The WaPo should just get on with changing its name to the Kaplan Org. and move on to its (corporate) life's work.
Howie Kurtz and Fred Hiatt are complete hacks.
And it was Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. that instituted the practice of giving equal credence to both sides, even if one side was (and always had been) lying through its teeth. And thus we find ourselves in the mess we're in today.
A mess created by Republicans (and the DINO's who are worshiped at the WaPo)...and now these same corrupt politicians demand answers for why President Obama has not fixed in 9 months what they spent 8 years destroying.
The Washington Post is hopeless. It is no different from a K-Street lobbyist for Boeing or United Health Care.
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