HOO BOY, RED MEAT FOR THE WINGNUTS

MSNBC reports on political donations by journalists and the tilt to the Left is striking. The wingnuts have complained about this tilt and use it to explain why their propaganda doesn't get enough respectful coverage.


Journalists dole out cash to politicians (quietly)
News organizations diverge on handling of political activism by staff

By Bill Dedman
Investigative reporter
MSNBC
Updated: 2 hours, 2 minutes ago

(excerpts)

MSNBC.com identified 144 journalists who made political contributions from 2004 through the start of the 2008 campaign, according to the public records of the Federal Election Commission. Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left: 125 journalists gave to Democrats and liberal causes. Only 17 gave to Republicans. Two gave to both parties.

Donations and other political activity are strictly forbidden at The Washington Post, ABC, CBS, CNN and NPR.


Many of the people who donated are not on political beats. Here are 21 from the newspapers section of the report (total is 65):

(D) The New York Times, Randy Cohen, ethics columnist.
(D) The New York Times, Christine Muhlke, deputy editor, style magazine.
(D) New York Daily News, Matthew Roberts, photographer.
(D) MSNBC.com, Joel Widzer, travel columnist.
(D) Los Angeles Times, Nick Cuccia, design editor.
(D) Los Angeles Times, Manohla Dargis, film critic, now at The New York Times.
(D) Los Angeles Times, Dan Neil, automobile critic.
(D) The Chicago Tribune, Maureen Ryan, entertainment reporter.
(D) The Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein, classical music critic.
(D) Newsday, Long Island, Rita Hall, section designer/artist/writer.
(D) The Boston Globe, Rebecca Ostriker, arts editor/writer.
(D) The Boston Globe, Henry Riemer, sports statistician.
(D) San Jose Mercury News, Rachel Wilner, sports editor.
(D) Boston Herald, Chris Donnelly, news librarian.
(D) South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Ethan Skolnick, sports columnist.
(D) Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Randy Galloway, sports columnist.
(D) Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Vincent Langford, sports copy editor.
(D) Contra Costa Times, Calif., Robert Taylor, fine arts reporter.
(D) Albany, N.Y., Times Union, Greg Montgomery, graphic design editor.
(D) San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, Calif., Eric Terrazas, sports editor.
(D) New Hampshire Union Leader, David Johnson, sports copy editor.