Take action against Republican sleaze in the media

[Brian_Expat]

Hey folks. Check out this editorial in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/1203/31dean.html

Regardless of what you think about Howard Dean, the author, David E. Johnson, has lied to his readers and the paper by omission. NOWHERE in his bio does he note an affiliation with the Republican Party, presenting himself as a PR CEO who simply has an opinion.

There's just one problem -- not only is Mr. Johnson a Republican, but he is a Chairman and Board Member of the Republican Congressional Committee. Mr. Johnson's career with the Republican party should have been noted in his background biography in the interest of full disclosure.

Partisan opinions are welcome from all party leaders -- however, direct conflicts of interest such as employment in any capacity with the opposition party when writing about the Democratic nominees should be disclosed in the bio to allow readers to make a fully informed decision.

By failing to disclose his employment with the Republican Party, Mr. Johnson has misled the AJC as well as his readers, providing what appears to be an opinion from a PR guy when in reality it's an opinion from someone who is in direct conflict with the candidates in question. This should have been disclosed.

E-mail the AJC and let them know of this. I have found the e-mail contacts for the editorial director and editorial page manager:

Hyde Post, Editorial Director: [e-mail]
Mike King, Public Editor: [e-mail]
Cynthia Tucker, Editorial Page Editor: [e-mail]

[WillyBrandt]

1. Excellent post

Despite your False Ideas (so to speak) about Braun's candidacy, this is exactly what should be at DU. Calling out the sleazy right.

[Brian_Expat]

2. My letter to the three individuals at the AJC

This e-mail is regarding the editorial about Democratic presidential candidates printed in the AJC by David E. Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision LLC. Mr. Johnson gave the distinct impression of being a neutral observer expressing an opinion regarding the nomination. However, a simple search of the web shows that Mr. Johnson is a Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. See link: http://www.talchamber.com/mem_corner_news_id.php?mem_corner_id=401

While I believe that Mr. Johnson has a right to his opinion, I believe it was unethical for a Republican organization's chairman and board member to present himself as merely an opinionated party who works for a PR firm. His employment with the National Republican Congressional Committee was not disclosed in his biography or noted anywhere else. Given that the opinion was regarding the opposition party, Mr. Johnson should have fully disclosed his conflict of interest to both you and your readers.

I trust the AJC as a source of balanced commentary and journalistic integrity. I have no problem with partisan editorial content -- in fact, I welcome it. However, I do believe in full disclosure of important potential conflicts of interest up-front so that readers can make an informed decision regarding the opinion expressed. I strongly encourage you to note Mr. Johnson's status as an employee of the Republican Congressional Committee to preserve the AJC's tradition of full disclosure.
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I am willing to bet that he misled the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about his motives and connections as well. The media does NOT like being hoodwinked, and it's important to let them know when the Republicans are playing games with them to influence news coverage.

[Name removed]

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