Political Cartoonist fired after contributing to Dems. "Liberal Media" again!

[Atman]

Paul Fell who has for years been the freelance cartoonist for the Lincoln Journal Star has been terminated as a contributing cartoonist over published remarks to MSNBC when they questioned him about a $450 contribution to a Democratic house candidate back in 2006. Paul was one of 144 journalists (or individuals working in the media industry) singled out for contributed money to a political party or individual while serving in the media.[br />
Paul’s response to MSNBC was:

• “For your information, I did contribute the amounts listed to the Maxine Moul for Congress campaign in 2006,” Fell said in an e-mail. “I am a freelance cartoonist, who contracts with the Lincoln Journal Star to draw three editorial cartoons a week.
  
  
• “They don’t pay me enough money to be able to dictate how I conduct myself in political campaigns. I generally do not donate to political candidates, but Maxine Moul is a longtime friend and former newspaper publisher where I got my start as a cartoonist back in 1976.
  
  
• “Frankly, I don’t give a rat’s ass what the Lincoln Journal Star or their parent organization, Lee Enterprises, policies are on allowing newsroom staff to give to candidates and parties. I do not believe they did disclose my donations. That’s their problem, not mine.”

For his flippant remark, the newspaper ran a column written by Kathleen Rutledge, the paper’s editor, regarding their decision to sever their relationship with Paul.

• "We pay him to express his own opinion on matters of public interest through cartoons that appear on the editorial pages. He is not an employee but a freelancer who is covered by our ethics code. He did not see fit to tell us he had made a political contribution, either at the time he made it or when he was contacted by MSNBC."

<snip>

http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/06/25/paul-fell-loses-gig-after-flippant-remark-about-newspapers-ethical-policy/

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[Bitwit1234]

1. Wonder how many newsreaders have contributed to th eGOP

Wonder if there is some way that it can be researched to find out. Bet there is a 10 to 1 donation group. GOP leaning.

[KoKo]

2. McCarthyism OUT IN THE OPEN....Now when will Dems comb through the Repug Contributions by RW

Media? I've been hoping there would be a PUSH BACK. If Dems are getting fired then there surely are many Repugs who have contributed. Let's start with the Weekly Standard, Politico, Washington Times...and the other Repug Media...along with the regular media.

[DeSwiss]

3. I think its not only ridiculous....

....but against democratic principles for newspapers and TV news outlets to limit or deny its reporters the right to contribute to politicians. However I do believe that there should be FULL DISCLOSURE of all contributions to politicians whenever articles or reports appears in the news and/or on politically related content programming. Like this:

Paul Fell
(Contrib: $450-D/2006)

Bill O'Reilly
(Contrib: $50-R/2006)

Rush Limbaugh
(Contrib: $10,000-R/2006)

Katy Couric
(Contrib: $10-R/2006, $10-D/2006)

Brian Williams
(Contrib: $5-I/2006)

This way the reader or listener can makeup their own minds about how much weight to give to what they read, see or hear....

[cobalt1999]

4. well...

You say you "don't give a rat's ass" what your employers policies are, you're probably going to get canned. Seems like most of the journalists in the article were either unaware of their companies policy and said it wouldn't happen again, or that their company didn't have a policy.

If I said that in public about my employer, I'd be out on the street too.

[King Coal]

5. So, will Rupert and Roger get the boot too?

[Atman]

6. MId-day kickaroonie

:kick:

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[HCE SuiGeneris]

7. GE is cleaning house

of dirty Libruls :mad: