Ex-Journalists’ New Jobs Fuel Debate on Favoritism

NYT ^ | Feb. 2, 2009 | Jim Rutenberg

[cdchik123]

WASHINGTON — Republicans have long accused mainstream journalists of being on the payroll of President Obama and the Democratic Party, a common refrain of favoritism especially from those on the losing end of an election (see Bush vs. Gore, Clinton vs. Bush and Bush vs. Dukakis).

But this year the accusation has a new twist: In some notable cases it has become true, with several prominent journalists now on the payrolls of Mr. Obama and the Democratic Congressional leadership.

An unusual number of journalists from prominent, mainstream organizations started new government jobs in January, providing new kindling to the debate over whether Mr. Obama is receiving unusually favorable treatment in the news media.

These are not opinionated talkers in the vein of Chris Matthews, the MSNBC host who last year flirted with a run for the Democratic nomination for the Senate — and who more recently said he would do “everything I can to make this thing work” for Mr. Obama.

Rather, they are, for the most part, more traditional journalists from organizations that strive to approach the news with objectivity.

Jay Carney, the new communications director for Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., was, until late last year, the Washington bureau chief at Time magazine, where he covered the campaign and, coincidentally, was a co-author of an article in September titled, “McCain’s Bias Claim: Truth or Tactic?”

[Larry381]

Rather, they are, for the most part, more traditional journalists from organizations that strive to approach the news with objectivity.

ROTFLMAO

[CutePuppy]

An unusual number of journalists from prominent, mainstream organizations started new government jobs in January, providing new kindling to the debate over whether Mr. Obama is receiving unusually favorable treatment in the news media.

So, inadvertently, NYT lets it slip that news media is always favorable to Democrats, but this time it was unusually favorable. So the only debate left is, whether this time favoritism is unusual or your basic usual type?

[ConservativeMind]

When will these people be out of work?

[She hits a grand slam tonight]

soon george will replace the bozo there now

[Tamar1973]

Rather, they are, for the most part, more traditional journalists from organizations that claim to approach the news with objectivity.

There, fixed it. I'm a better copyeditor that this guy is a journalist.

[Hardastarboard]

Oh, come on - everyone knows that the media is in the tank for conservatives, and that conservatives intimidate the media into promoting their agenda by screaming bias. I know that because I keep up with the real world - I visit DemocraticUnderground.

/bizarro world viewpoint

[ozzymandus]

If the NYT is admitting this, the cat is really out of the bag.

[SunkenCiv]

But this year the accusation has a new twist: In some notable cases it has become true, with several prominent journalists now on the payrolls of Mr. Obama and the Democratic Congressional leadership.

Sometimes the Slimes doesn't just spin the headlines.

[justiceseeker93]

I was about to post the exact same comment as Larry381, but I was beaten to it. Oh, well, as they say, great minds think alike.