Newspaper columnist suspended for not being anti-NRA

[Hawkmoon]

http://nypost.com/2017/05/06/columnist-who-defended-nra-quits-after-being-suspended/

So she resigned.

The newspaper says she wasn't suspended for disputing a previous anti-NRA hit piece, but because she had a "conflict of interest" in that she had previously been interviewed by the NRA. She was NOT paid for appearances with the NRA.

**Maybe** the newspaper has a valid point, but this certainly strikes me as being retribution for failing to adhere to the company line. It's difficult to support the notion that speaking one's mind without compensation gives rise to a conflict of interest.

[Perd Hapley]

I suppose they were also unaware that she's a conservative commentator with her own Mon-Fri conservative talk radio show. 

[Firethorn]

The newspaper says she wasn't suspended for disputing a previous anti-NRA hit piece, but because she had a "conflict of interest" in that she had previously been interviewed by the NRA. She was NOT paid for appearances with the NRA.

So merely being interviewed by the "wrong sorts" these days is a suspension offense?

[K Frame]

Mmmmm....

Looks like it's a bit more involved than simply being interviewed.

[MechAg94]

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch asserts that Washington was not suspended for the views expressed in her column, but for failing to disclose her promotional work and professional affiliation with the NRA. Washington has appeared several times as a co-host and commentator on “Cam & Company” on NRA TV and contributed to an NRA documentary in August 2016. However, she has never been paid by the NRA.

“Her active promotional activities and professional association with the National Rifle Association represented an unacceptable conflict of interest in her most recent column, which resulted in our suspension of her work,” Tod Robberson, the Post-Dispatch’s editorial page editor, wrote in a response to Washington’s suspension and quitting.

A little more to it, but not a whole lot.  And I really don't see how that affects her writing opinions defending them.  Has there been anything come out?

I would also be curious if they truly hold all their other writers to the same standard.

[Hawkmoon]

Mmmmm....

Looks like it's a bit more involved than simply being interviewed.

True. But not exactly secret -- and not for pay. It really appears that the newspaper wanted her on board as the token conservative, until they discovered that even token conservatives tend to say and write conservative-sounding stuff.

I consider myself to be a "professional" -- in my "profession." Being paid for my work is what makes me a professional. In fact, I think my state's laws refer to me as a "professional" -- as long as I ante up every year to maintain my "professional" license. But, how can someone who is NOT being paid have a "professional" relationship with a not-for-profit organization?

[Fly320s]

I have no problem with her being fired.  I think any company should be able to fire any person at any time for any reason. 

[K Frame]

"But not exactly secret -- and not for pay."

That's not the point.

The fact that she had a continuing relationship with NRA, and then wrote a column supporting NRA, can be seen to be a conflict of interest that calls her objectivity into question.

When I was working as a reporter I had a significant number of rules and restrictions placed on me as a means of avoiding even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

I'm really finding it hard to fault the newspaper here. The timing may be questionable, but the action I don't think is.

[HankB]

"But not exactly secret -- and not for pay."

That's not the point.

The fact that she had a continuing relationship with NRA, and then wrote a column supporting NRA, can be seen to be a conflict of interest that calls her objectivity into question.

When I was working as a reporter I had a significant number of rules and restrictions placed on me as a means of avoiding even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

I'm really finding it hard to fault the newspaper here. The timing may be questionable, but the action I don't think is.

Maybe so.

But I wonder how many currently employed newspaper columnists have had similarly close contacts or relationships with the DNC, the Clinton Foundation, Mecha, Aztlan, LaRaza, or various other entities on the opposite side of the political spectrum . . .

[grampster]

If the newspapers had a "conflict of interest" concern with respect to their reporters have associations with liberal causes and organizations, they'd have to fire probably 95% of their reporters.  If I was her, I'd find a good attorney and sue their brains out if for no other reason than to be as big an ahole as those who run the paper.

[cordex]

If the newspapers had a "conflict of interest" concern with respect to their reporters have associations with liberal causes and organizations, they'd have to fire probably 95% of their reporters.  If I was her, I'd find a good attorney and sue their brains out if for no other reason than to be as big an ahole as those who run the paper.

But I wonder how many currently employed newspaper columnists have had similarly close contacts or relationships with the DNC, the Clinton Foundation, Mecha, Aztlan, LaRaza, or various other entities on the opposite side of the political spectrum . . .

That was my first thought.

If one were to take all the leftist opinion pieces written and check their authors for connections to leftist causes and organizations, what would the overlap be?

[Perd Hapley]

I have no problem with her being fired.  I think any company should be able to fire any person at any time for any reason. 

 

[MechAg94]

I have no problem with her being fired.  I think any company should be able to fire any person at any time for any reason. 

I heard her interviewed on Armed America Radio (from Saturday).  She said the same thing which is one of the reasons she said she resigned. 

http://armedamericanradio.org/show-archives/2017-05-07/
Interview in Hour 1, second half. 

It honestly sounded like she was extremely happy about how events have turned out as she has gotten more publicity than she ever dreamed of.  She sounds good on the radio and I figure we will see or hear more of her. 

[Perd Hapley]

She sounds good on the radio and I figure we will see or hear more of her. 

Eh, sometimes. I'm not saying she's the only radio talker that gets a little over-excited at times, but she is one of them. Not excited in an angry way; more like punchy. Her voice can be a little too much, at times.

But she's certainly alright. I used to tune in to her, back when she had her Saturday show. I can't really listen on weekdays, though.

[K Frame]

Maybe so.

But I wonder how many currently employed newspaper columnists have had similarly close contacts or relationships with the DNC, the Clinton Foundation, Mecha, Aztlan, LaRaza, or various other entities on the opposite side of the political spectrum . . .

Hypocrisy exists. We both know that.

Again, though, that's not the point. The point is this individual, this incident.