By Jeff Schogol
Stars and Stripes
Published 11/6/2007
Excerpt:
Stripes' executive editor, managing editor and former editorial director all
said last month they were unaware of the extent to which money was being
channeled through the newspaper for America Supports You until the news staff
began looking into the IG review.
Such a relationship, not documented in the paper's strategic plan last year,
could cause staff and readers to question the paper's objectivity, editors
said.
A journalism scholar agreed.
"The fact that money was channeled through Stripes apparently without the
public's knowledge raises ethical issues about the newspaper's journalistic
independence and integrity," said Bob Steele, of the Poynter Institute for Media
Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"The independence of Stars and Stripes as a journalism organization is
essential and must be constantly reiterated and practiced," Steele said Friday. "If there is any question about the nature of funding internal within the news
organization or funding in relation to a Defense Department program, then that
independence can be jeopardized."
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