Did Keith Olbermann even violate NBC policy?

[sabra]

Source: WP - The Plum Line

Check out the fine print of what NBC policy said, as of 2007, about political activities on the part of NBC employees:

"Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee."

Emphasis mine. This is a bit difficult to parse. But this does seem to say that those who are worried that their "standing as an impartial journalist" would be jeopardized by political activity should report it. Last time I checked, Keith Olbermann doesn't pretend to be an "impartial journalist."

Likewise, neither do Joe Scarborough or Pat Buchanan, both of whom have also given political contributions. It seems possible that none of these three would think they may have violated company policy.

Odder still, an anonymous NBC insider told Gawker that it's common knowledge within the organization that MSNBC's left-leaning personalities aren't necessarily required to follow NBC News rules. That makes sense, since MSNBC is pushing the envelope politically in a way NBC, obviously, isn't.

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/did_olbermann_even_violate_nbc_1.html

[MadBadger]

1. Could his Election Night Hosting possibly the the issue?

In that role he is supposed to play impartial journalist, not commentator. Could that be whats getting him into trouble?

[aquart]

4. Uh, no. He was hired as a commentator to comment.

[MadBadger]

5. But in his election night HOSTING duties, he is supposed to be impartial

His job is to be fair in those duties, while others like Eugene Robinson are commentators on that night

[zeemike]

9. Then the question should be what did he do that was unfair.

Obviously giving money does not prove you are unfair because others like Fox give a lot and they claim to be fair.

[tomhayes]

17. Huh? How would being IMPARTIAL effect this?

Election Night Duties happen AFTER the elections they are calling have CLOSED.

Why would impartially have ANYTHING to do with that??

It's not like he's the referee of a game - it's like he's the game announcer -except he announces the game AFTER it has been completed.

Wouldn't being impartial BEFORE an election be an issue -not after?

Try again

[aquart]

2. Exactly. He is a known liberal commentator.

And we watch him because truth has a known liberal bias.

[emulatorloo]

3. Sounding more and more like a big bad power play by a big bad boss. n/t

[Renew Deal]

6. NBC should just ban contributions.

It's not worth all this trouble.

[robcon]

7. Obviously, he violated his contract. - nothing to do with 'policy.'

His contract stipulates whether he can donate to politicians. It is not a 'general' policy with MSNBC, but a specific provision in Keith's contract.

[Ian David]

8. Gawker says MSNBC employees aren't bound by the NBC contract. n/t

[hughee99]

11. I think robcon is saying that this is specifically in Keith's contract.

Not just from a general NBC or MSNBC contract. I don't know that this is the case (I haven't actually seen Keith's contract), but I've seen a number of people suggest this so far.

[zeemike]

10. Which may violate his constitutional rights.

If you have to ask if it is OK then it implies that they can say no...and that is not freedom.

[Ian David]

13. Because money is speech! n/t

[No Elephants]

24. Constitution binds government, not networks.

[DeltaLitProf]

22. Robcon, have you actually seen his contract?

n/t

[No Elephants]

25. "Obviously?" LOL

[ThomCat]

30. How do you know whether or not he violated anything?

:shrug:

The big claim is that he violated "NBC policy."

But even that is iffy, given that he works for MSNBC, not NBC. They're 2 different companies. One is the parent company of the other, but that does not mean that policies from one necessarily carry over to the other.

This smells very much like they are rationalizing to cover up a political hit.

It is obvious that NBC has been under a lot of political pressure to get rid of KO. General Electric, the real parent company up on top, donates money mostly to republicans. Comcast is buying NBC, and they donate to republicans. Republicans hate KO. KO has been targeting republicans daily since the elections. So the pressure has been building against him, and NBC was feeling all that pressure.

It's very difficult to say "we fired him because republicans told us to." It's much easier to "find" a rule that didn't apply that you can suddenly say actually did apply, and claim that the rule was broken. An employee getting suspended for violating a rule is much more acceptable, and much easier to deal with.

[activa8tr]

12. Kicking and recommending this thread because facts are important n/t

[fascisthunter]

14. I Believe this was an Excuse he was waiting for to give Keith the Boot

gotta love that right wing corporately slanted media... I'm seeing the same censorship I saw with the USSR... these guys did it with fascism, corporate power the government gave them for bribes.

[Proletariatprincess]

15. I think the key word here are "You SHOULD report..."

as opposed to "You SHALL report..." That small clarification would make a huge difference in a court case.

[pasto76]

16. what the fuck is a "commentator"?

should it be "commenter"?

Im going to go relaxidate on my couch.

[Katarina]

19. Really?

Definition of COMMENTATOR

One who gives a commentary; especially one who reports and discusses news on radio or television.

[Independem]

18. Andrea Mitchell's Prime Time Lies Ousting CIA Agent, OK

"A senior administration official told The Post on Saturday that two top government officials called at least six Washington journalists and disclosed the identity and occupation of Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame. Wilson said yesterday that journalists for the three major broadcast networks told him they had been contacted by someone in the White House. He named only one, Andrea Mitchell, NBC's chief foreign affairs correspondent, who interviewed Wilson and reported on July 22 that he said the administration was 'leaking his wife's covert job at the CIA to reporters.' Mitchell could not be reached for comment yesterday."

"Bush Administration Is Focus of Inquiry CIA Agent's Identity Was Leaked to Media" by Mike Allen and Dana Priest Washington Post September 28, 2003

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-fiderer/andrea-mitc...

Andrea Mitchell, wife of Allen Greenspan lied about Valerie Plame to back up Republican lies to start war in Iraq and nothing happened. Now Keith Olbermann gives 2400 to a couple politicians and gets bitch slapped.

Something Stinks in this story, Keith needs to go over to HBO

On Keith’s Show Last Night Matt Taibbi Book Griftopia

GOP: "DON'T enforce Bank Law!" & TEA Party infighting - Countdown

Spencer Bachus (R-AL), who will be new the GOP head of the House Banking committee just sent an email warning Banking regulators NOT to enforce the new Volcker Rule & bank & Wall Street regulations limiting speculation with government insured funds -- because Goldman Sachs & J.P.Morgan Chase said so.
It's been only ONE DAY since the Nov. 2 election and the chickens are already coming home to roost.
JEEZ! Here we go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9_RHpqy8So

This could be about Matt Taibbi going on Keith’s Show last night, the National Networks are like the Oil Cartels, they stick together and don’t like any news that is negative about the New Republican Party Power Moves.

[Prometheus Bound]

20. It also uses "should", not "must", which indicates it's recommended, but in the end, optional.

[Doctor_J]

21. Apparently only the lefties at MSRNC have such clauses

the wing nuts as usual don't have any rules.

[dmosh42]

23. NBC is in violation of the US Constitution! n/t

[No Elephants]

26. See Reply 24.

[dmosh42]

27. Don't know what you're implying, but we still have a 'Bill Of Rights'...n/t

[No Elephants]

28. See Reply 24.

[ThomCat]

29. Does anyone doubt that Republicans put pressure on NBC to fire him?

I'm sure the executives at NBC have been getting phone calls demanding that they do either something to get KO to stop putting them on the spot on his show, or else simply fire him.

There is no way NBC could say that they caved in to direct political pressure from the republican party to fire a national personality. They would be required to make up some kind of lie to cover up why they fired KO.

So, they make up this lie about KO breaking this rule. Even though it doesn't apply to MSNBC employees. Even though KO isn't an impartial journalist, he is a political show host who clearly and honestly announces his liberalism and his support for democrats. They're the boss, and he's the employee, so that alone will give them enough credibility for the lie to work. Every republican talking head will also back them up, and that also guarantees them credibility regardless of the lies they tell.

So now KO is on the defensive, even though he didn't do anything wrong.

I hope he sues the hell out of them, and in the process I hope he is able to drag people into court and prove political interference. I hope he can force them to reveal that NBC was under pressure, and that they caved in, and reveal where that pressure came from.