Posted on 07/26/2002 7:39:59 PM PDT by FourPeas
Editor moves political sign
Friday, July 26, 2002
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BAY CITY -- An editor at The Bay City Times returned to work Thursday after her husband agreed to remove a banner from their yard advertising his candidacy for county commissioner.
Jalene Jameson, assistant metro editor for features at The Times, went on unpaid leave July 18 after the paper's editor told her she could not work there while a campaign sign was posted in her yard.
The Times prohibits its journalists from political activity, including running for office, working on campaigns, making political donations or displaying campaign bumper stickers or yard signs.
Jameson is married to Rik Hayman, one of three Democrats running for a Bay County Commission seat in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary.
The couple had insisted that Hayman should have the right to post his campaign sign in his yard. But when the newspaper sent Jameson a letter saying she would lose health insurance and other benefits while she was out, they decided to move it to a neighbor's yard.
"She is going back to work under protest, and I'm taking the sign down under protest and under duress, frankly," Hayman said. "They are taking health insurance away from our children, and it raised the stakes."
Hayman also has health insurance from his job as spokesman for U.S. Rep. James Barcia, a Bay City Democrat, but he said The Times offers a better policy for their five children. Hayman said the couple plans to file a lawsuit challenging the newspaper's policy.
Times Editor Tony Dearing said the policy is important so that journalists remain objective on political coverage. t
So not having the sign in her yard somehow makes her more objective? Huh?
What a joke. That's like saying "The Times prohibits its journalists for being honest human beings.." Give me a break. Their political activity IS their biased reporting. They think such policies can fool us into thinking they have no political motives in their reporting. HA!
On this specific case, I say, "Give me a double break!" It's her husband for gosh sakes. Of course she's biased in favor of him. I'd prefer a little honesty to phony "no participation" policies any day.
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