Finding a workable solution to a century old practice

Second in a five-part series on the revolving door between journalism and government in New Jersey. Yesterday, Debbie Holtz wrote about post-employment ethics for the journalist-turned-spokeswoman.

Gov. Jon Corzine's new Communications Director is a Star-Ledger reporter who has covered him for the last three yearsIt’s described as a “century-old” practice. The list of reporters who moved from the Fourth Estate to government /political spokesperson positions is long and impressive.

It includes Pierre Salinger -- who went from reporter to White House press secretary and back again to chief European correspondent for ABC News. Add Bill Moyers to the list -- his tour of duty began at a local radio station in Texas, made a few stops at posts in the Johnson Administration, only later to return to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). And let’s not forget Jerald terHorst -- President Gerald Ford tapped the former Detroit News Washington Bureau Chief as his press secretary in an effort to return some integrity to the Office of the President after Richard Nixon’s resignation.

The list also includes some lesser known names, and the dividing line between actual and perceived conflicts of interests seems a bit more blurred.

The reality is people change jobs all the time, and for a variety of reasons. Reporters are no different than the rest of the working population. No one's going to get rich from a job in journalism, and particularly at newspapers. The leap from the news room to "the front office" can mean a mean a sizable bump in salary. The average salary for reporters is $42K according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while communications positions in NJ government and politics are typically in the six figure range.

So What can be done to balance the need of news organizations to avoid conflicts of interest with the right of their employees to job hunt?

"You want reporters to be independent. It is a fundamental value of journalism,”

says Tom Rosenstiel, Director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism. “There should be some mechanism to protect the public interest. It may have to be voluntary, as in any other business transaction."

Voluntary

mechanisms most often refer to post employment contracts. The closest comparison is the "non-compete" agreements other private sector companies require new hires to sign limiting future employment in the same or related industry. The likelihood of enforcing such contracts in journalism is low. The practicality of such contracts is even more remote.

"I do believe the current situation is regrettable," observed

Dr. Barbara Reed, professor of journalism and architect of the Media Ethics & Law curriculum at Rutgers University. “The journalism profession is the worst paid college educated profession for university graduates today. If newspapers paid reporters on the basis of their talent and experience, it would be different.

"I don’t blame any reporter who goes from a newspaper to a public relations position. I do not fault any reporter for making the switch when an opportunity presents itself, especially in the climate we are in today.”

For some media experts reasonable alternatives include, post - employment internal reviews and public disclosure of conflicted reporting when a reporter leaves; and reassignment if the reporter chooses to stay after interviewing for a spokesperson position within his or her beat.

"Post facto reviews may be more doable and it is certainly desirable from the public interest,” Rosenstiel contemplated. “This is a more workable plan and could be incorporated into a policy that the ombudsman or

readers' editor could review.

"The public does not necessarily need to know the results of every examination…but there should be some internal review. Then if there is some concern about the coverage, they (editors) should acknowledge it to the public.”

“It also gives the employees sufficient warning and gets them to be extra diligent…journalists know they have a professional ethical obligation,” he added. “It would have an inocular effect.”

For the runner-up interview candidate, the situation is a bit different.

“It is a good idea to tell your editor (about your job interview),” stated Dr. John Pavlik, chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers University. “They are likely to find out anyway – through the grapevine, one way or another – so it’s best to be honest."|

"Reporters are not terribly well paid so it is not unusual for many to seek employment elsewhere…the disclosure can be discrete. There’s no need to tell the whole newsroom.""Then it is the editor’s job to reassign them from stories in which there could be a potential conflict,” Pavlik added. “Or the reporter can ask for a different beat, at least for some period of time.

"Reporters should have no relationship other than the professional one."

Tomorrow: Are former sources protected when reporters cross over?