PAYOLA – YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! - (gannongate, ink-for-pay)

[paineinthearse]

Received from American Progress

When Armstrong Williams was exposed as a paid White House propagandist, Chicago-based Tribune Media Services immediately dropped him from its lineup of nationally syndicated columnists. Now TMS has a message for the next generation of potential payola pundits: don't fall for the honey trap. In a two-page letter mailed to columnists this week, TMS Vice President John Twohey warns that columnists who "engage in activities that compromise their journalistic independence and integrity will jeopardize their relationship with TMS."

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http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20050202-114925-8767r

Fair warning

Chicago-based Tribune Media Services (TMS) is cautioning its lineup of nationally syndicated columnists not to get caught in the same honey trap as Armstrong Williams. TMS dropped syndication of the black pundit's column after he acknowledged accepting $240,000 from the Bush administration to promote its education-reform law.

"Recent news events have cast a national spotlight on the subject of media credibility," TMS Vice President John C. Twohey writes in a two-page letter to columnists, this one among them. "I'm referring, in particular, to disclosures that two syndicated columnists -- one associated with TMS -- accepted money from the federal government to promote White House initiatives."

Reminding that credibility is among the most valuable assets of journalism, Mr. Twohey warns that columnists who "engage in activities that compromise their journalistic independence and integrity will jeopardize their relationship with TMS."

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My letter to TMS Vice President John Twohey

Please thank TMS Vice President John Twohey

Ref his "honey trap" letter - http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20050202-114925-8767r

Journalistic integrity is at stake. Thank you for doing your part.

1. Could I have a copy?
2. Be aware that MSM is slow on the uptake. I've seen no significant coverage outside MediaMatters, bloggers and one article by Charlie Savage and Alan Wirzbicki, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent | February 2, 2005 - http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/02/white_house_friendly_reporter_under_scrutiny/

I encourage you to

A. Pursue "gannongate" or "ink-for-pay" or whatever you want to call it. Investigate the connections to the White House.
B. Spread Savage & Wirzbicki's article. A google search this morning resulted in it one "hit", that of the original newspaper (Boston Globe). NOT ONE OTHER NEWSPAPER HAS REPUBLISHED IT!
C. Have the White House press corps re-institute a forgotten protocol, that upon asking a question the reporter identify him/herself and their affiliation. The press corps has become too "chummy" and that non-news political organizations gaining access via "day passes" needs to be countered with this simple but effective corrective action.

[JohnnyRingo]

1. Indeed this is encouraging news....Thanx for the heads up

The media culpability to crisis fabrication and misdirection of government policy is frightening in it's scope.

Is this administration so corrupt as to have "bought off" the media through intimidation, isolation, or outright cash-money payments?

Apparently most, but not all.
Perhaps when he steps too far over the line, we'll see a backlash to his authority as news media organizations strive for credibility by touting their "disassociation" from the White House (fair, Balanced, and unowned by the State).

Hopefully, the pendulum will only swing to one side of the political spectrum for a short time until momentum builds in the other direction, if only for the sake of filling that vacuum left from the mass rush to the right since 9/11 and the unfortunate reign of GWB.

[ultraist]

2. Great info!

I would also suggest emailing Ted Kennedy and supporting his anti- propaganda bill.

[paineinthearse]

3. You mean Ted doesn't read his constituents' DU posts?

OK, one more email to the senior senator.

[paineinthearse]

4. Message from Mary Elson, Managing Editor/Tribune Media Services

Dear J:

Thanks very much for taking the time to write and for your comments about TMS. I think overall these developments will help the journalistic profession -- I hope so.

Best,
Mary Elson
Managing Editor/Tribune Media Services

[ultraist]

6. Cool!

It's nice she took the time to reply. That offers a glimmer of hope.

[KharmaTrain]

5. First Good Step...

Someone needs to really dig into the entire relationships between the media, it's corporate owners and the Repugnican party. The conflicts and connections here are apparent from the surface and must be glaring from underneath. Williams was just the slime oozing to the surface for all to see.

It's been a month since this story first appeared and other than TNS dumping Williams, nothing else has happened. Au contrare...he's become a cause celebe for the hate radio crowd, like he and Maggie Gallagher and Gannon are some sorta martyrs.

I've been calling for something stronger...a legal mind and some cash (my checkbook is at the ready) to enact a civil suit against Williams and others who accepted MY tax money under false pretenses. Just like Judical Watch, we need a group that will go into a court of law, put these people under oath and in front of a jury and let's hear what they have to say.

This letter makes me hopeful there's some vestage of Journalistic ethics left...but is there enough strength for them and others to speak up and expose the big iceberg below the surface? I'll be curiously watching...

[ultraist]

7. excellent suggestions!

Why don't we have an aggressive media watchdog group that sues the MSM and uncovers unethical journalists like Armstrong?

With people like Sorros, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, it seems like progressives could afford to fund something like that.

Maybe one exists that I'm not aware of. If so, they should consider screening FAUX news for subliminal ads like the ones movie theatres used to show. Someone on another thread mentioned this and I think it very well could be happening.

[KharmaTrain]

11. I've Been Searching...

I like what Soros is doing...independently, but setting up the infrastructure, like the right wing did in the 70's and 80's, that funded the think tanks that turned into the "journalists" and other "experts" that flood the media along with the insectuous relationship they have with corporate media. My brain is too tired right now to recite book titles or articles, there are way too many on the subject, and I'm sure you'll find plenty here on DU.

Democrats felt that many of these tactics were beneath them and by exposing truth and hypocrisy they would prevail. We fell far behind the game, and now these oxygen theives believe they can get away with anything...and are.

Right now I'll settle for investigating Williams. There's lots of smoke there...and we need some firemen.

There needs to be a real close examination of the realtionship of the media and this regime. It's destroying lives.

Cheers.

[Dr Fate]

8. We need to pressure our congresscritters to talk about this on TV...

We need to start making the case about media bias- as well as expose Bush crimes...

The media will not report on how corrupt they are- we need to get DEMS to talk about this on TV.

[paineinthearse]

9. Caution on "pressure"

Many are supportive. I'd rather you use persuasive and supportive language.

[Dr Fate]

10. Fair enough.

Send them a "gentle reminder" for all I care- but let them know that this is an important issue and that you want somthing done.

[paineinthearse]

12. Reply from Arthur Bovino, NY Times Public Editor

Dear Mr.(),

We get many suggestions for news coverage from our readers, however we here in the office of the public editor do not participate in the selection of features or make decisions regarding news coverage.

Please send any information to news-tips@nytimes. com or send a note to the following addresses which can provide you with the emails for many reporters and editors: [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Thanks for writing.

Sincerely,
Arthur Bovino
Office of the Public Editor
The New York Times

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Original message has been forwarded to the news department and two editors.