S F BayBay Area Television Anchor-Reporter Gives $1,000 to Schwarzenegger

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGALABETGKD.html

Sep 11, 2003
San Francisco Bay Area Television Anchor-Reporter Gives $1,000 to Schwarzenegger By Don Thompson Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A television station's business editor contributed $1,000 to Arnold Schwarzenegger, breaking an old industry taboo against reporters supporting political campaigns.
Brian Banmiller, business editor for KTVU, asked the Schwarzenegger campaign to return the money Tuesday after inquiries from The Associated Press, said Ed Chapuis, news director at the Oakland station. Banmiller's wife wanted to meet the actor, Chapuis said, so Banmiller bought a ticket to a private campaign fund-raising event near his hometown.

The contribution violated no station policy, though the station is developing guidelines for its employees, Chapuis said. "I think he made the right decision," Chapuis said. "The appearance of a conflict of interest was something we need to avoid as journalists. I think by taking this action it avoids that."

Banmiller reports on economic issues and is co-anchor and managing editor of the station's globally syndicated weekly "Silicon Valley Business" program, according to the station's Web site. The reporter also provides a daily business feature for CBS News Radio affiliates as a freelance business reporter, said CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius. Making a personal contribution is allowed under CBS News guidelines because he is not covering politics, she said. <snip>

[GainesT1958]

1. They should suspend this guy until (at least) after the recall...

His "fair and balanced" support for the Gropenator has been unmasked--so much for trusting THIS idiot's on-air pieces!:mad:

B-)

[booksenkatz]

2. "Appearance of a conflict of interest"

Hell, as far as I can tell, no one gives a damn about appearances anymore. The media is openly fellating the GOP, so what does this thousand bucks matter? May as well be up front about it.

[samsingh]

3. why even bother to pretend to be objective any longer

this donation says it all. the media doesn't even hide its bias anymore.

[jos]

4. Lou Dobbs gave $1x to Bush in '00

And he has his own national show.

So much for the SCLM.

[demdave]

5. So what? The man is a business editor not the news anchor.

He does not cover politics. This is no different the any tv personality going to a fundraiser.

[xchrom]

12. have you missed his expanded role at cnn?

he runs his mouth now concerning just about anything.
not just finances.

[demdave]

14. You somehow think if he didn't make the donation that would change?

His bias and potential to spew in on the air exists independent of the donation.

[stevedeshazer]

6. If Banmiller's wife wanted to meet Schwarzenegger

Couldn't she just pull down her top or something?

[demdave]

7. That only works if you want to meat the President.

And I believe it was a thong :)

[robbedvoter]

8. But, but - the media is liberal, doncha know?

That may mean Arnie is liberal too? Damn pinko!

[davidinalameda]

9. he should be suspended until after the election

Journalists of any sort are supposed to be impartial. Waiting for the laughter to die down.

No matter if the guy is a sports reporter or home and garden, he has no business donating money and openly supporting a candidate.

I don't care if the contribution is returned or not. He's already broken the veil of impartiality.

[E_Zapata]

10. I commend him. Why not bring it all into the open?

sarcasm -

[treepig]

11. don't know why the "sarcasm"

i believe you have a valid point.

after all, without the donation, the same biases would have existed, but we may not have known about them.

if every reporter HAD to make a donation to their preferred candidate (with full public disclosure, of course), i believe there'd be a lot more transparency than now exists

[musiclawyer]

13. Banmiller is a good reporter;

It's too bad that he soiled himself this way. It really screws up the perception of objectivity, perhaps especially so when reporting business, as business and politics are inextricably linked. That's why it's a very serious problem for any tv staion, especially KTVU which sits right smack at the port of Oakland, surrounded by a very liberal constituency and audience.