A Few Wrinkles in Shriver's Marriage to NBC News

New York Times ^ | October 8, 2003 | Jim Rutenberg

[Free2Be49]

A Few Wrinkles in Shriver's Marriage to NBC News

By Jim Rutenberg

October 8, 2003

New York Times
 http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/08/national/08SHRI.html?ex=1066190400&en=5281fed95d433bc2&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 — Maria Shriver, who has at times acted as a shock absorber for her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his campaign for governor, plans to return to her job as a correspondent and occasional anchor at "Dateline NBC."

But NBC News officials said on Tuesday that they had not decided what journalistic duties she would take on. And some people at NBC News and at other networks questioned whether Ms. Shriver's role as a disinterested journalist had been compromised, at least for political news.

Neal Shapiro, the NBC News president, said Ms. Shriver's involvement in the recall campaign should not tarnish a long career in journalism, one that Ms. Shriver began at KYW-TV in Philadelphia in 1977, as a news writer.

"She's been a journalist her whole working life, and she has awards to attest to her ability," Mr. Shapiro said. "Just because her husband ran for office doesn't mean it should wipe that slate clean."

Though Ms. Shriver took an unpaid leave of absence from NBC News immediately after Mr. Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in August, friends said at the time that they expected her to keep a relatively low profile. Ms. Shriver, however, took an increasingly visible role last month, at first in response to polls showing that many California women were uncomfortable with the idea of Mr. Schwarzenegger as governor, and then to help combat news reports of accusations that he had groped several women.

In mid-September Ms. Shriver appeared with Mr. Schwarzenegger on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to declare that her husband was "an incredible man" and "gracious, supportive."

After The Los Angeles Times began publishing articles last week detailing the accounts of women who said they had been inappropriately touched by Mr. Schwarzenegger, she appeared by his side on the stump still more.

"I wouldn't be standing here today in this speech if my husband were not an A-plus human being," she told a crowd at Newport Beach on Friday. She indirectly criticized The Los Angeles Times by declaring: "I don't believe in gutter politics. I don't believe in gutter journalism."

Throughout the campaign Ms. Shriver has had to endure embarrassments beyond those related to the groping charges. For example, various news reports reprised a 1988 Playboy interview in which Mr. Schwarzenegger said he did not allow Ms. Shriver to wear pants.

Ms. Shriver had not responded to requests for comment as of Tuesday afternoon. A campaign spokeswoman, Sara Lee, said, "She has maintained throughout the campaign that it's very important that she return to her job.

"As to when she's going back, or what specific stories she may or may not cover, that's between her and NBC News."

Ms. Shriver's role at NBC News has been a varied one, from celebrity interviewer to program host to occasional political reporter. She scaled back her work schedule several years ago to spend more time with her husband and four children.

But she was especially visible for NBC News during the 2000 campaign when she tried to interview Senator John McCain in Los Angeles as he went to give a concession speech on Super Tuesday. As she approached, Mr. McCain growled at her, "Please get out of here."

Although NBC has not yet decided Ms. Shriver's role in the network's news coverage of the presidential race, Mr. Shapiro said she would not be able to cover California politics or anything relating to her husband upon her return.

Ms. Shriver is not the first NBC correspondent married to a newsmaker. The correspondent Andrea Mitchell is married to Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Sandy Gleysteen, Ms. Shriver's producer at NBC News for the last 17 years, said in a telephone interview that Ms. Shriver had "always been able to cover the news and be the news at the same time."

"She has always kept those worlds separate, and still does," Ms. Gleysteen said.

Other NBC News staff members said this had caused consternation at times, especially when she failed to give fellow NBC News journalists advance word about news coming from her family, like Mr. Schwarzenegger's intention to announce his candidacy.

"That's the kind of family person she is," said her agent, Richard Leibner, who added that it was Ms. Shriver who asked for an unpaid leave after her husband announced his candidacy to avoid any conflicts.

[Free2Be49]

What about the left politicos that are allowed to be on fair and balanced news magazine formats? Another example of the double standard of leftest media.

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[george wythe]

Ms. Shriver is not the first NBC correspondent married to a newsmaker. The correspondent Andrea Mitchell is married to Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Wasn't BahBah Watters also married to a politician for a while? Sorry, not married, living in sin with a male politician.

[Steven W.]

hmmm ... Katie's attempts at active participation and efforts to derail the recall didn't seem like the evhavior of a disinterested journalist to me.

[anniegetyourgun]

"And some people at NBC News and at other networks questioned whether Ms. Shriver's role as a disinterested journalist had been compromised..."

Most hypocritical thing I've read all day!

[lambo]

Isn't Christiane Amanpour married to some Clinton flack?

[Samwise]

Let me get this straight.

Being married to a governor might compromise her.

But being a Shriver and a Kennedy didn't compromise her.

Hmmmmmmmm.

[JerseyHighlander]

Yes, don't forget Matalin /Carville too. Hey journalists, you can marry any politician you want, as long as they're Liberals.

[Night Hides Not]

Who's the woman married to Greenspan? The liberals never had a beef with her.

[marron]

Someone remind me again who is Alan Greenspan married to... and who is Christiane Amanpour married to... Who did Stephanoupolis used to work for...

There are plenty of personal relationships between the press and politicians. They run in the same circles, have many of the same interests.

And I doubt the ability of any Kennedy to be unbiased, not just the ones married to Republicans. A Kennedy is unbiased enough to be a reporter when only her blood relations are in government, but ceases to be unbiased when her husband is in government...

Actually, I see their point, and I agree. The wife of a sitting governor should not work as a journalist. I am surprised she would not have arrived at that conclusion herself. And I just wonder at all of the other symbiotic relationships the press chooses to ignore.

[Maria S]

Amen!Christiane Amanpour and Jamie Rubin (Clinton man), Alan Greenspan and NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell, for starters. The political/media connections of the democratic party are legendary.

[PoisedWoman]

The article gives the NY Slimes another opportunity to slam Arnie for unproven charges.

Maria will pay for Arnie's win, the leftie media will make sure of that.

As first lady of CA, however, I think she can create a supremely useful camera-friendly role for herself supporting the governator's policies. She'll become news. A big step up from reporting it.

[Ditto]

Isn't Christiane Amanpour married to some Clinton flack?

Yep. The guy who was State Dept. spinner for Mad Maddie.

[JOE6PAK]

Hey Maria. Come on over to FOX news! Fair AND balanced!

Show them you are too!

[CyberCowboy777]

This is crap. They are all insiders - usally for the left though.

[anniegetyourgun]

Correction, being married to a REPUBLICAN governor might compromise her. Therein is the difference. You must remember: journalism = liberal D's = normal. Anything that deviates from that is abnormal, and therefore doesn't qualify as good journalism. Get with the program, Sam....don't you know nuttin?

[Maria S]

"Who did Stephanoupolis used to work for..."

Speaking of ‘George’…have you seen his wife on her new daily TV talk show? She has Jack Ford working with her; locally, they’re on CBS at 9:00 a.m. I could NOT believe Steffy is married to such a blond flake (nothing against all of you intelligent blondes with FR).

[narby]

Uncle Teddy didn't cause a problem, but hubby Arnold does.... Go figger.

[Garden Mama]

If ABC considers George Stephanopoulos impartial then surley Maria can be just as impartial!!!!

[tioga]

...some people at NBC News and at other networks questioned whether Ms. Shriver's role as a disinterested journalist had been compromised, at least for political news.

She works for NBC and they are saying what??

Sounds a lot like "the pot calling the kettle black!"