Odds and Ends III
One part of the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics states,
"Journalists should . . . shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity."
So on a lark, I used the handy-dandy campaign contribution tool recently posted on UMR's blog to see how our local journalists were doing on that score. Didn't find a single news staffer who contributed to anybody's campaign, although admittedly my search was not exhaustive.
Conclusion: 1. Local journalists are scrupulously following the SPJ's Code of Ethics; or 2. They don't get paid enough to have spare money lying around to donate to anybody; or 3. Some of both.
Now the publishers are another story. They contribute, although less heavily than one might expect. Does a publisher's political involvement influence news coverage? Depends on the publisher. William Loeb's notorious Union-Leader in Manchester, N.H., was horribly biased. Other publishers keep a Chinese wall between their personal views and their publication's coverage. I have not noticed a great deal of favoritism in the Herald-Whig's political coverage, although if pressed I might say it tends to favor middle-of-the road, don't-rock-the-boat candidates. I did note back in 2006 that the Whig gave Andrea Zinga 58 inches of coverage as opposed to 16 inches for Phil Hare, and then endorsed Zinga....but on the other hand, it endorsed Blago too.
For the record, the publishers' political contributions, as identified on Hynes' website, are below. You can make up your own minds as to whether these politicians (or in one case, a ballot committee) get unbalanced news coverage.
Dave and Mary Oakley
Friends of John Sullivan – 200.00 6/20/03
Citizens to Elect Jil Tracy – 200.00 8/06-10/06
Harold and Kathryn Oakley
Citizens to Elect Jil Tracy – 395.00 7/06-10/06
Peter A. Oakley
Citizens for Lisa Madigan – 100.00 12/15/05
Peter Oakley
Citizens for Lisa Madigan – 100.00 9/24/02
Ralph Oakley
Citizens for Lisa Madigan – 100.00 7/31/02
Ralph and Lisa Oakley
Citizens to Elect Jil Tracy – 250.00 9/12/06
Lisa Oakley
Sheriff Fischer Committee – 200.00 9/23/06
Thomas Oakley
Citizens for George Ryan – 5,000.00 6/25/01
Citizens to Elect Tom Cross – 250.00 6/12/07
Oakley-Lindsay Center
Friends of John Sullivan – 750.00 8/03-8/05
Oakley-Lindsay Foundation
Yes for Quincy Committee – 3770.40 3/8/04
"Journalists should . . . shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity."
So on a lark, I used the handy-dandy campaign contribution tool recently posted on UMR's blog to see how our local journalists were doing on that score. Didn't find a single news staffer who contributed to anybody's campaign, although admittedly my search was not exhaustive.
Conclusion: 1. Local journalists are scrupulously following the SPJ's Code of Ethics; or 2. They don't get paid enough to have spare money lying around to donate to anybody; or 3. Some of both.
Now the publishers are another story. They contribute, although less heavily than one might expect. Does a publisher's political involvement influence news coverage? Depends on the publisher. William Loeb's notorious Union-Leader in Manchester, N.H., was horribly biased. Other publishers keep a Chinese wall between their personal views and their publication's coverage. I have not noticed a great deal of favoritism in the Herald-Whig's political coverage, although if pressed I might say it tends to favor middle-of-the road, don't-rock-the-boat candidates. I did note back in 2006 that the Whig gave Andrea Zinga 58 inches of coverage as opposed to 16 inches for Phil Hare, and then endorsed Zinga....but on the other hand, it endorsed Blago too.
For the record, the publishers' political contributions, as identified on Hynes' website, are below. You can make up your own minds as to whether these politicians (or in one case, a ballot committee) get unbalanced news coverage.
Dave and Mary Oakley
Friends of John Sullivan – 200.00 6/20/03
Citizens to Elect Jil Tracy – 200.00 8/06-10/06
Harold and Kathryn Oakley
Citizens to Elect Jil Tracy – 395.00 7/06-10/06
Peter A. Oakley
Citizens for Lisa Madigan – 100.00 12/15/05
Peter Oakley
Citizens for Lisa Madigan – 100.00 9/24/02
Ralph Oakley
Citizens for Lisa Madigan – 100.00 7/31/02
Ralph and Lisa Oakley
Citizens to Elect Jil Tracy – 250.00 9/12/06
Lisa Oakley
Sheriff Fischer Committee – 200.00 9/23/06
Thomas Oakley
Citizens for George Ryan – 5,000.00 6/25/01
Citizens to Elect Tom Cross – 250.00 6/12/07
Oakley-Lindsay Center
Friends of John Sullivan – 750.00 8/03-8/05
Oakley-Lindsay Foundation
Yes for Quincy Committee – 3770.40 3/8/04
posted by Allthenewsthatfits at 12:55 PM
8 Comments:
You do realize that "Oakley Lindsay Center" is just a name, right? Neither the Oakleys nor the Lindsays own the place. And between 03 and 05, it was probably Jansen routing the money.
As for Peter Oakley, he works as a custodian at Hotel Quincy and WGEM, for heaven's sake. He's a nice guy but he's a special needs person, hardly a QNI "big whig".
Come on, you're better than this kind of petty sniping.
Actually, I thought it was kind of interesting. One of the enduring myths among Quincy bloggers is that the local media are somehow puppets who dance to the political tune of their owners.
In fact, the public record shows that the owners actually contribute to candidates very modestly, and to candidates of both parties. If there is a bias, it is only toward what might be called "establishment" candidates and incumbents. And as the original post stated, I have not noticed any special bias in local coverage.
As for individuals, having never met any of the family, I wouldn't know a Peter from a Willy or a Sam. I was just going my last name and Quincy address. Sorry to include anyone who shouldn't have been included.
Anon 4:04 keep in mind that Peter Oakley's father is also Peter Oakley.
And because Peter A gave in one year and Peter in another, you don't which Peter Oakley is the donor. I doubt very much if it were Pete, the Cardinal fan.
Uh no, Peter Oakley's dad is Tony Oakley.
Now that I think about it, it does seem a bit irregular that a civic center would be donating to a partisan candidate.
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Especially when they are funded by tax dollars.
Good luck finding writers donating money. Publishers would because they have the money.
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