Keith Olbermann's ethics: Conflict of interest, opinion v. news

Shockingly condensed outline for ethical decision making
From the point of view of the decision maker (reporter, editor, other)

Identify the problem

List the stakeholders
Decision maker’s employer (the news organization)
Colleagues
The profession (journalism)
Advertisers
Readers
Sources
Individuals / groups / the community at large
Me
Others as you see them …

Consider the values in play
Fairness
Balance
Privacy
Obligation to society
Public interest
Personal interest
(others not listed here)

List the options and consider them

Decide


Relevant excerpts from the SPJ code

Seek the truth and report it. Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Journalists should:

• Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
• Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.

Act independently. Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. Journalists should:

• Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
• Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
• Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
• Disclose unavoidable conflicts.

Be Accountable. Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other. Journalists should:

• Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
• Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
• Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
• Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

MSNBC's statement on Olbermann's suspension

MSNBC TV host Keith Olbermann was suspended indefinitely on Friday for making campaign donations to three Democratic congressional candidates, apparently in violation of NBC News ethics policy.

The announcement came in a one-sentence statement from MSNBC TV President Phil Griffin: “I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay.”

The donations were first reported by the Politico website earlier in the day.

Olbermann acknowledged the donations in a statement to Politico, saying he gave the maximum legal donation of $2,400 to Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords and Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, who waged an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate against Tea Party standard-bearer Rand Paul.

Like most news organizations, NBC News, parent of MSNBC TV, prohibits political contributions by its journalists without prior approval of the president. (msnbc.com, a joint venture of NBC Universal and Microsoft, also has a policy against its journalists contributing to political campaigns.)

"Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest,” the NBC News policy reads. “Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the president of NBC News or his designee."

Politico noted that the donations to Grijalva and Giffords were made on Oct. 28, the same day that Grijalva appeared on Olbermann’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” show. Grijalva won re-election on Tuesday, while Giffords on Friday was clinging to a narrow lead over Republican Jesse Kelly in a race that the Associated Press has not yet called.

In his statement to Politico, Olbermann said he did not encourage his viewers or other staff members to donate to the candidates.

“I did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns, nor to any others in this election or any previous ones, nor have I previously donated to any political campaign at any level,” he was quoted as saying.

Olbermann's response upon his return from suspension:
What is Olbermann's ethical position?
Do you agree with it or not, and why?



Questions about Olbermann's response

• He got support from friends (300,000 petition signatures) and rivals (conservatives upholding individual rights). Does this support matter in the context of ethical decision making?
• Jay Leno calls Olbermann a "news anchor." He may be an anchor, but does he deliver news? Is he a journalist?
• What do you think of John Stewart's position: "It's a stupid rule, but at least it was enforced poorly"?
• Consider Olbermann's position: "The rule must be debated, and it must be adapted to the realities of 21st century journalism." What realities? How adapted?
• In closing, Olbermann defends his donations because they are transparent, a matter of public record. In contrast, a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allows large organizations, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to back candidates using money from individuals whose names would not be known. Does this transparency make Olbermann more ethical?
  

Other views
Rachel Maddow: No political contribution policy at Fox
Toronto Sun columnist: Rules different in Canada

So, what's the problem (if any), and how will you solve it?
Go back to the beginning and run through the shockingly condensed outline for ethical decision making.