Losing Its Religion: The New York Times Compromises

TechCrunch ^ | September 6, 2009 | Michael Arrington

[lbryce]

Two things that would end hypocrisy and make the world a better place: Priests should be allowed to get married, and the New York Times should update its Ethics Policy. The venerable and vulnerable newspaper finally starts talking about the “Pogue Problem” out loud to its readers.

For years David Pogue has covered Apple (and other tech companies). And for years he has been authoring books on Apple products. He doesn’t get paid by Apple for the books, but his bias is clear and he has been accused to conflicts of interest more than once by other mainstream media. Dan Lyons has a very funny take on the whole story which is worth reading. If you have any doubt about Pogue’s opinion of Apple, this should clear it up.

We actually celebrate this kind of behavior, as long as it’s disclosed to readers. But the New York Times has a different standard, and Pogue’s reporting is a clear violation of their Policy on Ethics in Journalism, in my opinion: Though this topic defies firm rules, it is essential that we preserve professional detachment, free of any hint of bias. Staff members may see sources informally over a meal or drinks, but they must keep in mind the difference between legitimate business and personal friendship. A city editor who enjoys a weekly round of golf with a city council member, for example, risks creating an appearance of coziness.

So does a television news producer who spends weekends in the company of people we cover. Scrupulous practice requires that periodically we step back and look at whether we have drifted too close to sources with whom we deal regularly. The test of freedom from favoritism is the ability to maintain good working relationships with all parties to a dispute.

[lbryce]

The New York Times acting in unethical behavior? The New York Times caught in a conflict of interest? The New York Times involved in duplicity, hypocrisy?
To paraphrase Captain Louis Renault of "Casablanca" fame: I am shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!

If only they had a modicum of the integrity they demand of others
Free Republic, August 8, 2009: Ben Stein Loses Times Column

[skinkinthegrass]

[Pharmboy]

I read the Times’ ombudsman’s piece on Pogue the other day. To me, it is a ‘so what?’ issue since this Apple bias pales in comparison to the left wing bias present throughout the paper (and I am not referring to the Op-Eds).

[Bean Counter]

[arthurus]

is a clear violation of their Policy on Ethics

NYT's operational policy on ethics does not resemble the published policy.