MSNBC story on journalists as political donors: NS editor "hadn't thought of campaign contributions as public"

MSNBC Investigative Reporter Bill Dedman has written a report about the political donations of journalists in the United States.  Mr. Dedman's team examined federal campaign reports from 2004 through the first quarter of 2007.

The report was titled and subtitled: "The list: Journalists who wrote political checks / And their explanations, from 'Yikes!' to 'They're all in somebody's pocket'."

Mr. Dedman's report of the 144 journalists in the period who donated to political candidates included two who work for the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel: Fran Adler, copy editor, and Faith Van Gilder, copy editor.  Both donated to Democrats.  Both reports said that they were listed as donating with their husbands. 

The full details and explanations of those donations from the MSNBC may be found on the continuation page or by clicking here.

Ms. Van Gilder's husband, David,  was a Democratic nominee for Allen County Council years ago.

Mr. Dedman wrote:

The [News-Sentinel] editor, Kerry Hubartt, said he hadn't thought of campaign contributions as public. "We don't mind contributions as such, but we have to tell our staff they can't openly participate in a campaign, handing out flyers.

"There are probably things we may not know about in terms of participation," Hubartt said, "that might make us nervous if we did know about them."

FWOb attempted to contact Mr. Hubbartt by phone this morning.

From the June 21, 2007 MSNBC story by Bill Dedman:

(D) Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel, Fran Adler, copy editor, $250 in August 2006 to Dr. Tom Hayhurst, Fort Wayne city councilman and Democrat who lost the congressional race in 2006 for the 3rd Congressional District.

Adler said, "Well, you know, it was from my husband and me. I'm surprised that my name is on it. That's neither here nor there. That's just how you found me. We are people and citizens, and we have the right to support candidates in our own ways.

"I was asked to distribute flyers at a 4-H fair, but my editors thought something that visible was inappropriate. But I was allowed to make a contribution. I'm a citizen, and I'm going to have my opinions regardless. I think I can be absolutely objective about him and his opponents and anything. I'm in the distinct minority in this newspaper in my political leanings — I don't think it's an issue."

The paper's editor, Kerry Hubartt, said he hadn't thought of campaign contributions as public. "We don't mind contributions as such, but we have to tell our staff they can't openly participate in a campaign, handing out flyers.

"There are probably things we may not know about in terms of participation," Hubartt said, "that might make us nervous if we did know about them."

Click to return to the list.

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(D) Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel, Faith Van Gilder, copy editor, $500 in October 2006 to Dr. Tom Hayhurst, Fort Wayne city councilman and Democrat who lost the congressional race in 2006 for the 3rd Congressional District.

"Actually, my husband and I gave," Van Gilder said. "I don't remember why.

"We just rewrote our ethics policy for the newsroom about two years ago. I looked at it, and it said you can't run for political office. It doesn't mention donations or wearing a political button or putting a political bumper sticker on your car. We have a pretty small newsroom, 30-35 people, and we, for the most part, we all know each other's political stripes.

"I'm sure one of our main objectives is to be very neutral when we're writing a headline, when we're editing copy. We would never put our personal opinions in a cutline. When you're a professional journalist, you separate what you believe from your job. I've been in the business for 25 years. Maybe someone who is younger has struggled more with that. I'm able to keep the two separate."