Cartoonist, Columnist Dropped for Making (Dem) Political Donations; SPJ Responds

[babylonsister]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003603808

Cartoonist, Columnist Dropped for Making Political Donations; SPJ Responds

By E&P Staff

Published: June 26, 2007 12:53 PM ET

NEW YORK An editorial cartoonist was dropped by his home newspaper and a syndicated columnist was dropped by one of his client papers for giving political contributions, according to a story by MSNBC.com investigative reporter Bill Dedman.

Meanwhile, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) issued a release today praising Dedman's article.

Dedman wrote that the cartoonist is Paul Fell of the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star and the columnist is "On Ethics" writer Randy Cohen of The New York Times and Universal Press Syndicate. Cohen's feature was canceled by The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Wash.

Also, Dedman's story said KPTM-TV in Omaha reporter Calvert Collins lost her job for giving $500 to Democratic congressional candidate Jim Esch, posing with him for a photo posted on Facebook.com, and urging her friends to vote for him. Collins said her father made the donation in her name.

They were three of 143 journalists (from newspapers and other media) who Dedman named in his original June 21 article as giving political contributions.

more...

[Atman]

1. I posted on this one yesterday...

And actually, Paul Fell himself has an interesting response. He admits to being kind of a tool about the whole thing.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1178814&mesg_id=1178814

.

[villager]

2. so, you're just fired if you support Democrats, that it?

n/t

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Is there a law that says as private citizens these people can not make political donations?

And am wondering, should newspapers now not be allowed to offer the political backing/support to certain political candidates and/or parties?

This whole thing smacks of GOP blacklisting.

[robinlynne]

4. ahh the witchhunt. and yet the real criminals stay out of jail.