PlumLine Has It: 'Did Keith Olbermann Even Violate NBC Policy?' Greg Sargent/WaPo

[WillyT]

Did Keith Olbermann even violate NBC policy?
By Greg Sargent - PlumLine/WaPo
November 5, 2010; 4:25 PM ET

<snip>

Check out the fine print of what NBC policy said, as of 2007, about political activities on the part of NBC employees:

"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. 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."

Emphasis mine. This is a bit difficult to parse. But this does seem to say that those who are worried that their "standing as an impartial journalist" would be jeopardized by political activity should report it. Last time I checked, Keith Olbermann doesn't pretend to be an "impartial journalist."

Likewise, neither do Joe Scarborough or Pat Buchanan, both of whom have also given political contributions. It seems possible that none of these three would think they may have violated company policy.

Odder still, an anonymous NBC insider told Gawker that it's common knowledge within the organization that MSNBC's left-leaning personalities aren't necessarily required to follow NBC News rules. That makes sense, since MSNBC is pushing the envelope politically in a way NBC, obviously, isn't.

Again: We don't know yet what happened here. MSNBC's P.R. department is not responding to inquiries about whether Scarborough or Buchanan notified MSNBC brass before making their contributions. But it's certainly fair to ask, if they're axing Olbermann.

<snip>

More: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/did_olbermann_even_violate_nbc_1.html

:kick:

[grasswire]

1. How did Phil Griffin find out?

That's what I want to know. Who tipped him?

[Azathoth]

2. He read it in Politico I think. n/t

[rfranklin]

3. Keith Olberman is a commentator not a journalist....

Please... this is all about punsihing him for supporting Democrats.

[frazzled]

4. A point he missed, also

"Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions"

As a copyeditor, I couldn't help noticing that phrase on my first read earlier this afternoon. Does the clause "that espouse controversial position" apply only to "groups" or to the compound subjects "political campaigns or groups." The scope of modification of the clause is ambiguous.

The candidates Olbermann gave to were anything but "controversial": Gabriel Giffords and Jack Conway? Give me a break.

I am not a big Keith fan (not for his content but his style), but this seems very wrong and punitive.