Another Brick in the Wall Keeping Journos from Political Concerts

By: E&P Staff Another memo was issued today in the ongoing Right to Attend a Political Fundraiser saga now running in select newsrooms.

As E&P has reported on numerous occasions, several newspapers have issued orders to all or some staffers barring them from attending the just-beginning Vote for Change concert tour, featuring star acts such as Bruce Sprignsteen, Pearl Jam, James Taylor, the Dixie Chicks, and much more. Newspapers are concerned attendance at these pro-Kerry concerts may conflict with ethical rules against donating to candidates.

Today, employees at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch received one of the dreaded memos -- as had staffers The Washington Post, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Denver's Rocky Mountain News, and several other papers in recent weeks.

Post-Dispatch staffers were reminded that the newspaper's ethics policy severely restricts political involvement, including campaign contributions. But it did not entirely drop the hammer, encouraging staffers to "stay away" from the local concerts on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 but "not making an absolute ban on all newsroom staff."

But executives added: "If you do attend, however, understand this: You cannot participate in local or national election coverage in any way -- whether it's writing stories, editing copy, writing headlines, taking photographs, or designing pages. If you attend, we expect you to tell your supervisor so we don't inadvertently put you in an unacceptable position.

"In effect, some staff members are banned: those of us directing political coverage and/or involved in political coverage this year. News reporters, columnists, photographers, graphics journalists, editorial writers, news copy editors and designers, wire editors, mid-level and senior editors throughout the division, and all news assignment editors absolutely should not attend these concerts. Reporters or photographers covering or reviewing the concert may attend as part of normal news coverage.

"Basically, the issue is this: We cannot compromise our journalistic integrity."