What Does NBC Consider Ethical?

Dear Friend:

Jamison Foser wrote to you on Wednesday about Jim Miklaszewski, NBC's chief Pentagon correspondent, and how he reportedly took $30,000 from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce to give a speech at its Business EXPO 2007. As you read, during his speech Miklaszewski attacked presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), calling him a "loser" for attempting to defend a pricey haircut.

This is an important issue that speaks to the credibility of NBC and the integrity of its news division. That is why I have written a letter to Steve Capus, the president of NBC News, which I have included below for you to read. It's also important for Mr. Capus and NBC to hear directly from you. You will find all the necessary contact information above.

I urge you to take action today and ask Mr. Capus to publicly release NBC's ethics and conflict-of-interest policies for journalists and to explain whether Jim Miklaszewski's conduct complies with those policies.

Here is my letter to Mr. Capus:

July 19, 2007

Mr. Steve Capus
President, NBC News
NBC Television Group
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY
10112-0037

Dear Mr. Capus,

We recently learned that earlier this spring NBC News chief Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski accepted $30,000 from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce to address its Business EXPO 2007 -- an apparent violation of NBC News' policy banning paid speaking engagements.

Equally troubling, during his remarks Miklaszewski cast aspersions on presidential candidate and former Senator John Edwards (D-NC), calling him a "loser" for defending a pricey haircut. While this personal attack is not the chief reason for writing this letter, it is clearly inappropriate for a professional, impartial journalist to make and deserves your direct attention as well.

In 2002, Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz reported that professional journalists' accepting speaking fees is widely frowned upon by the media, and that a "number of news organizations including ABC and NBC, [have] banned the practice."

In 2006, responding to controversy surrounding Chris Matthews' acceptance of speaking fees from several corporate interests, then-MSNBC president Rick Kaplan clarified publicly that NBC has a strict policy prohibiting anchors from personally accepting speaking fees, and that anyone who did so "would risk being fired."

As we have noted, Mr. Miklaszewski's remarks appear to be in direct violation of your network's ban on paid speaking engagements. I respectfully ask that you publicly release NBC's ethics and conflict-of-interest policies for journalists, and explain whether Mr. Miklaszewski's conduct comports with those policies. If Mr. Miklaszewski's decision to give a speech paid for by a special interest group in which he attacked a presidential candidate is consistent with NBC's policies, I ask that you revise those policies to prohibit such actions.

Sincerely,

David Brock
President & CEO
Media Matters for America

As always, thank you for your support. Please make sure to contact NBC today!

Sincerely,

David Brock
President & CEO
Media Matters for America

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