Petrelis Files

Barney Calame
Deputy Managing Editor
The Wall Street Journal

Dear Mr. Calame:

This morning I reread Howard Kurtz's front-page January 18 story in the Washington Post about media personalities donating to politicians, and wish to bring the following passage to your attention.

"Wall Street Journal technology columnist Walter Mossberg got a waiver to contribute $3,000 to Democrat Shapiro, 'my best friend of 35 years,' and reporter Laura Landro gave $1,000 to [ex-Sen. Bill] Bradley. Managing Editor Paul Steiger said there was 'some screw-up' and that Landro's husband has assured him that he made the Bradley donation. The Journal's policy is that news staffers 'should not be active in either big-time national causes or national partisan politics,' Steiger said," reported Kurtz.

If Steiger's statement is true, then why did Eben Shapiro, an editor at the Wall Street Journal, give $1,000 to Democratic Victory 2004 in June, and Marc Frons, editor of SmartMoney.com, a joint effort between the Wall Street Journal and Hearst Magazines, contribute $250 to John Kerry's presidential bid?

Did either donation from these Dow Jones employees violate company policy?

I would direct my concerns to your publication's ombudsman, but since the Wall Street Journal does not have a readers' representative, I am sending this note to you.

Here are the recent contributions from Shapiro and Frons, which are available on tray.com

Shapiro, Eben
6/29/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 11105
Dow Jones/Editor -[Contribution]
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY 2004

Frons, Marc
3/18/2004 $250.00
Wilton, CT 06897
Dow Jones Inc./Executive -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

A prompt reply is respectfully requested and appreciated.

Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA