Chron editorial writer violates contributions policy : Lone Star Times

Chron editorial writer violates contributions policy

by Matt Bramanti · 10/10/2008 1:55 pm

Our friends at blogHouston made a great catch the other day:

David Mincberg’s latest report (PDF download) is interesting. If a person clicks onto page 18, the name Andrea Georgsson turns up. Georgsson gave Mr. Mincberg $250.

Georgsson lists her occupation as “writer” for none other than the Houston Chronicle.

Incidentally, Georgsson also gave $250 to Barack Obama’s campaign a few months ago.

Suprisingly, Houston’s newspaper of record actually has an ethics policy, and our buddy Rorschach snagged a copy.

Here’s the section relevant to Georgsson’s contribution:

Do not become involved in groups or activities that are covered by the newspaper or that are likely to be covered. Do not serve or participate in government or partisan organizations.

Do not contribute to political candidates or partisan causes. Such contributions are often subject to disclosure laws and can cast doubts on a journalist’s objectivity.

They sure can.

MORE: blogHouston, Red Ink: Texas, Unca Darrell, Brazosport News, Lose an Eye

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Comments

16 Responses to “Chron editorial writer violates contributions policy”

Zippy_Slug on October 10th, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Journalists are objective ? When did that start ?
Maltboy! on October 10th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

…can cast doubts on a journalist’s objectivity

I’ll go on record as saying I have no doubts about journalistic objectivity at the Chron. I am absolutely sure there is none.
american woman on October 10th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

You guys didn’t get the email? The Chronicle after much deliberation has decided to rename itself. It’s new name is “The Transplanted New England Democomical”. Now, don’t you feel better? They expect no readership loss, and Houstonians have already left.
Robert 1 on October 10th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

Another perfect example of “double standard”, let that contribution go to McCain or any conservatifve and the Crummyicle would be all over it with front page stories and editorials but let it be one of their own—SO!!! No big deal!!!

There have been so many stories about illegal contributions and illegal voter registration, if “Hussein” doesn’t win it will be miracle.
raiderdav on October 10th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

I’m shocked, but only at the audacity and not the lack of objectivity. Why wouldn’t she just give $195 instead and never have her name show up on a list?
Matt Bramanti on October 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm

You make an excellent point, Raiderdav. I wonder whether the contributions were deliberate attempts to challenge the policy.
newscooper on October 11th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

She may be a freelancer who tried to get this under the radar. Under the current crisis at the HC a lot of work is being out sourced. I guess she figured a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do lol
Matt Bramanti on October 11th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

Nope, Georgsson’s no freelancer. She’s a full-time employee of the Houston Chronicle and even sits on its editorial board.
newscooper on October 11th, 2008 at 7:31 pm

I stand corrected Matt. It will be interesting to see what management does with this screw up. She can’t plead ignorance since this specific mandate is written into the policies and procedures for editorial personnel.

I know that on the advertising side it’s a revolving door. Seasoned career reps have been cut and many are demoralized by reactionary steps taken. Entry level reps are coming in the back door as experienced talent is going out the back door. The HC suffers from the same inflexible culture of the industry as outlined in this report by The Readership Institute.
newscooper on October 11th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Sorry I am new to this type of program. That link is
newscooper on October 11th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

Well I guess I’m going to have to learn how to embed links
squawkbox on October 11th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

newscooper

Highlight the text in your comment that you want to embed the link in and then click the link button. A window will open, past your link there, click OK and away you go.

If you are using windblows Internet Explorer and you get a script warning tell it to allow script.

Squawkbox
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Mr. Weather on October 11th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

Nope, Georgsson’s no freelancer. She’s a full-time employee of the Houston Chronicle and even sits on its editorial board.

What? The Chonicle employs writers? The whole first section of Sunday’s Early Edition of the Chron contains not one piece by a Chronicle person.
newscooper on October 11th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

Thanks Squakbox let me try this again. The Readership Institute created by a consortium of large daily newspapers made a forecast some nine years ago about the current financial crisis in the industry. I think only a couple of small papers heeded the warning.
Ghost Rider on October 12th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

#3 American woman … you’re funny. OK, so Jeff Cohen is a Yankee … no big surprise. But how about the fact that George W. was born in Connecticut, and his poppy was born in Massachusetts?

Pretenders, both of them. People pretending to be real Texans - knowing they have so much to prove - do the most damage of all, as we have seen.
wfish on October 13th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Chronicle editorial “Outlook” page is overwhelingly loaded with New York columnists. Maureen Doud and Thomas Freidman appear several times a week….maybe that’s part of a plan to eleminate local viewpoints….and save money? Jesse Jones is probably shaking the ground around him. I’m sure this isn’t what he had in mind.