American reporters are supposed to be impartial and nonpartisan, above the

fray of politics and campaigns.

After researching Federal Election Commission records for New York Times

editorial staff back in the spring, I discovered the paper's reporters had

donated a healthy sum of money to candidates, primarily Democrats, over the

years. Some of the New York Times reporters' donations were made after the paper

instituted a policy prohibiting such contributions, while the bulk of the

donations were made prior to the ban. (You can find these donations elsewhere on

my blog.)

Today I went back to the best web site for searching FEC files, http://www.tray.com/,

and pored over recent donations by journalists, reporters, publishers and

others who work at print media outlets.

I limited my searching to the two most recent election cycles, except for

Time and Newsweek, and Rupert Murdoch, because of the influence each

wields.

More than fifty newspapers, magazines, wire services, and names of

publishers, were searched.

Wish I could say I was surprised at how many media people have donated to

Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic National Committee, or Democratic candidates,

but I can't.

I'm don't know if any of these publications or news services have policies

barring political contributions, and if they do, then journalistic ethics are

being violated. If publications lack such prohibitions, now might be a good time

for the outlets to consider implementing such a policy.

In no particular order of importance, here are the highlights of what I

found, in my unscientific survey:

- Rupert Murdoch donated $2,000 to Kerry's Senatorial campaign in 2001;

and he gave Sen. Ted Kennedy $1,000 in 1999.

- New Yorker senior editor Hendrik Hertzberg, gave Kerry's presidential

campaign $900, a fact I don't think he has disclosed in the magazine.

- Martin Peretz, editor in chief of The New Republic, donated $2,000 to

Kerry in February.

- Former Vermont governor Howard Dean was the second-top recipient of

reporters' dollars.

- President George Bush didn't receive a single donation from any outlet or

reporter in my search.

- The one donation from a Wall Street Journal writer this year, Henny

Sender, was for $300 for Kerry.

- Ralph Nader received only $1,200 from one person; Helga Halaki of Time

magazine's editorial side.

In an ideal world, reporters would refrain from donating to politicians and

campaigns, but until that world is created, the least we can expect from media

people is full disclosure about their policies on contributions, and informing

readers when donations are made.

For myself, I'm disclosing again my support for Nader and that I made a $10

contribution to his campaign in the spring.

Now, here are the search results of my informal survey. The list is broken

down by alphabetically by media outlet.

^^^

A-B-C-D

Katz, Alex

4/26/2004

$250.00

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Ang Newspapers/Journalist

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Chambers, Anne C

6/2/2003

$2,000.00

Atlanta, GA 30305

Atlanta Journal Constitution/Chairm

-[Contribution]

BOB GRAHAM FOR PRESIDENT INC

Chambers, Anne Cox

2/6/2003

$2,000.00

Atlanta, GA 30346

Atlanta Journal Constitution/Chairw

-[Contribution]

GEPHARDT FOR PRESIDENT INC.

ADAMS, MADELYN

1/22/2002

$1,000.00

ATLANTA, GA 30306

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION

-[Contribution]

FRIENDS OF MAX CLELAND FOR THE US SENATE

INC

Adams, Madelyn R Ms

4/19/2004

$2,000.00

Atlanta, GA 30306

The Atlanta Journal Constitution/Ex

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Marudas, Georgia

3/31/2003

$1,000.00

Baltimore, MD 21218

The Baltimore Sun/Newspaper Editor

-[Contribution]

GEPHARDT FOR PRESIDENT INC.

Scholz, John J Mr.

3/17/2004

$250.00

Baltimore, MD 21215

The Baltimore Sun/Copy Editor

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Burton, Katherine

3/22/2004

$250.00

New York, NY 10023

Bloomberg Lp/Journalist

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Fellman, Joshua

3/3/2004

$500.00

,

Bloomberg L.P./Editor -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Fellman, Joshua

12/30/2003

$200.00

Mid-Levels,

Bloomberg L.P./Journalist

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Houck, Robert R

3/25/2003

$250.00

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Bloomberg L.P/News Editor

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Houck, Robert R

9/30/2003

$250.00

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Bloomberg L.P/News Editor

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Houck, Robert R

1/8/2004

$250.00

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Bloomberg L.P/Journalist

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Houck, Robert R

12/5/2003

$210.00

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Bloomberg L.P/Journalist

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Kapadia,

Milanee

5/31/2004 $1,000.00

New York, NY 10023

Bloomberg

L.P./Journalist -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

TORRES, CARLOS

9/23/2003

$250.00

WASHINGTON, DC 20009

BLOOMBERG NEWS -[Contribution]

DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

Urban, Robert

11/12/2003

$250.00

New York, NY 10021

Bloomberg LP/Journalist

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Wydra, John Mr.

10/15/2003

$200.00

Princeton Junction, NJ 08550

Bloomberg L P/Broadcast Commentator

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Wydra, John Mr.

7/23/2003 $200.00

Princeton

Junction, NJ 08550

Bloomberg L P/Broadcast Commentator

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Donnelly, Christopher

3/8/2004

$250.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston herald/Librarian

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Donnelly, Christopher

3/17/2004

$500.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston herald/Librarian

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Donnelly, Christopher

3/25/2004

$500.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston herald/Librarian

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Donnelly, Christopher

5/18/2004

$250.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston herald/Librarian

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Donnelly, Christopher

4/15/2004

$200.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston Herald/Librarian

-[Contribution]

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE

Donnelly, Christopher J Mr.

11/18/2003

$400.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston Herald/librarian

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Donnelly, Christopher J Mr.

11/19/2003

$300.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston Herald/librarian

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Donnelly, Christopher J Mr.

2/25/2004

$600.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston Herald/librarian

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Donnelly, Christopher J Mr.

3/30/2004

$200.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston Herald/librarian

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Donnelly, Christopher J Mr.

2/2/2004

$400.00

Boston, MA 02118

Boston Herald/librarian

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Crowther, Prudence

4/19/2004

$200.00

New York, NY 10014

Business Week/Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Spiro, Leah Nathans

3/14/2003

$250.00

New York, NY 10019

Business Week/Associate Editor

-[Contribution]

WOMEN'S CAMPAIGN FUND

DOWDLE, JAMES C

9/22/2003

$2,000.00

WILMETTE, IL 60091

CHICAGO TRIBUNE -[Contribution]

MCKENNA FOR SENATE

DOWDLE, JAMES C

1/26/2004

$2,000.00

WILMETTE, IL 60091

CHICAGO TRIBUNE -[Contribution]

MCKENNA FOR SENATE

Elsner, David M.

6/30/2003

$250.00

Crete, IL 60417

Chicago Tribune Co./newspaperman

-[Contribution]

KUCINICH FOR PRESIDENT INC.

MACKOVICH, SUSAN

5/6/2003

$350.00

WILMETTE, IL 60091

CHICAGO TRIBUNE MEDIA

-[Contribution]

FINGERHUT FOR US SENATE

Wagner, Carl

5/5/2004

$250.00

Westchester, IL 60154

Chicago Tribune/Photographer

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Berlin, Jennifer

2/4/2004 $1,000.00

New York, NY 10021

Conde Nast

Publications/Merchandisi -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT

INC

Eakeley, Priscilla

3/31/2004 $2,000.00

Short Hills, NJ 07078

Conde

Nast/Editor -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT

INC

Friend, Theodore

5/20/2004 $500.00

Brooklyn, NY 11201

conde

nast/writer -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT

INC

Godfrey-June, Jean

11/25/2003 $500.00

Nyack, NY 10960

Conde

Nast/Editor -[Contribution]

CLARK FOR PRESIDENT INC

Lahr, John

3/4/2004 $500.00

New York, NY 10036

Conde

Nast/Writer -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT

INC

Leive, Cynthia

4/2/2004 $2,000.00

New York, NY 10013

Conde Nast

Publications/Magazine Ed -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT

INC

Mate, Jim

11/21/2003 $250.00

Cranford, NJ 07016

Conde Nast

Publications/Publishing -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT

INC

Mate, Jim Mr.

3/2/2004 $250.00

Cranford, NJ 07016

Conde Nast

Publications/Publishing -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT

INC

Schwartz, Howard

3/5/2003 $250.00

Englishtown, NJ 07726

Conde

Nast Publications/Publisher -[Contribution]

COMMITTEE TO ELECT

MCHUGH

Shnayerson, Michael

3/25/2004 $2,000.00

Sag Harbor, NY 11963

Conde

Nast/Journalist/Author -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Murray, Julie A

2/23/2004

$250.00

Las Vegas, NV 89117

Cox Newspapers/Senior Writer

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Murray, Julie A

2/23/2004

$250.00

Las Vegas, NV 89117

Cox Newspapers/Senior Writer

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Murray, Joe

10/3/2001

$500.00

Lufkin, TX 75904

Cox Newspapers/Senior Writer

-[Contribution]

JIM TURNER FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE

E-F-G-H

Porter, Steven

5/31/2004

$500.00

New York, NY 10025

Entertainment Weekly Magazine/Publi

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Tetzeli, Rick

3/27/2004

$1,000.00

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Entertainment Weekly/Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Jacobs, AJ

5/20/2004

$500.00

New York, NY 10024

Esquire Magazine/Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Lewis, Edward

7/6/2003

$2,000.00

New York, NY

Essence Magazine/CEO/Chairman

-[Contribution]

SHARPTON 2004

Lewis, Edward

4/7/2003 $1,000.00

New York,

NY 10036

Essence Communication/President -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Lewis, Edward

2/4/2004 $1,000.00

New York,

NY 10024

Essence Communication/CEO -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

LEWIS, EDWARD

2/10/2004

$1,000.00

NEW YORK, NY 10036

ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS PARTNERS

-[Contribution]

OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC

Serafin, Tatiana Ms

4/12/2004

$202.00

Brooklyn, NY 11211

Reporter -[Contribution] [Forbes]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Briggs, Jean A Ms.

2/2/2004

$250.00

New York, NY 10010

Forbes Inc./Journalist

-[Contribution]

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Briggs, JeanA. Ms.

2/19/2003

$250.00

New York, NY 10010

Forbes Inc./Journalist

-[Contribution]

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Blake, Mary C

12/15/2003

$1,000.00

Arlington, VA 22209

Gannett Co. Inc./Writer

-[Contribution]

CLOONEY FOR CONGRESS

Coyne, Judith W.

5/21/2003

$1,000.00

Pelham Manor, NY 10803

Hearst Corporation/Magazine Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Coyne, Judith W.

2/19/2003 $1,000.00

Pelham

Manor, NY 10803

Hearst Corporation/Magazine Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Gross, Amy

3/20/2004

$250.00

New York, NY 10011

Hearst Pubs. Inc/Magazine Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Seymour, Lesley J Ms.

5/20/2004

$2,000.00

Larchmont, NY 10538

Hearst Publications/Editor Marie Cl

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Weisburg, Elaine G

3/5/2004

$500.00

New York, NY 10010

Hearst Magazines/Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

K-L-M

Adcock, Beryl Ms.

5/27/2003

$200.00

Arlington, VA 22202

Knight RIDDER/Journalist

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Adcock, Beryl Ms.

12/23/2003

$250.00

Arlington, VA 22202

Knight RIDDER/Journalist

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Koteles, Julie R Miss

5/3/2004

$204.00

Calabasas, CA 91302

Los Angeles Daily News/Agate Editor

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Dargis, Manohla

12/18/2003

$500.00

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Los Angeles Times/film critic

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Luchetti, Edward

12/19/2003

$250.00

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

LA TIMES/Polster

-[Contribution]

CLARK FOR PRESIDENT INC

N-N-N-N

Peretz, Martin

2/24/2004

$2,000.00

Cambridge, MA 02138

The New Republic/Editor

-[Contribution]

EDWARDS FOR PRESIDENT

Peretz, Martin Mr.

3/13/2004

$1,000.00

Cambridge, MA 02138

The New Republic/Editor-In-Chief

-[Contribution]

DRISCOLL FOR CONGRESS

{{THE FOLLOWING FOUR EMPLOYEES ARE LISTED BY ME

WITH THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS}}

Roberts, Matthew C Mr.

3/30/2004

$404.00

New York, NY 10009

Daily News/Photographer

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Gertler, James S.

6/17/2002

$649.00

New York, NY 10023

Daily News L.P./Executive

-[Contribution]

MIKE MCINTYRE FOR CONGRESS

Vickrey, Robert

5/4/2004

$250.00

Peru, IL 61354

Daily News Tribune Inc./Media Execu

-[Contribution]

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY

Berkman, Meredith J

4/12/2004

$1,000.00

New York, NY 10024

New York Post/Journalist

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Burstein, Lawrence

1/16/2004 $300.00

New York, NY

10014

New York Magazine/Publisher -[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Malcolm, Janet

12/5/2003 $200.00

New York, NY

10003

New York Magazine/Writer -[Contribution]

DEAN FOR AMERICA

Angell, Roger

5/27/2004 $500.00

New York, NY

10128

New Yorker/Writer-Editor -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Denby, David Mr.

3/15/2004 $1,000.00

New York, NY

10023

The New Yorker -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Denby, David Mr.

5/27/2004 $250.00

New York, NY

10023

The New Yorker -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Hertzberg, Hendrik

4/13/2004 $500.00

New York, NY

10036

The New Yorker/Journalist -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Hertzberg, Hendrik Mr.

5/27/2004 $400.00

New York,

NY 10025

the New Yorker magazine/Senior Edit -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Klaris, Edward J Mr.

4/12/2004 $250.00

New York, NY

10025

The New Yorker/Attorney -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Bischoff, Dan

12/30/2003 $250.00

South

Orange, NJ 07079

Newark Star Ledger/Writer -[Contribution]

DEAN FOR

AMERICA

MURDOCH, RUPERT

12/17/2001 $1,000.00

NEW YORK, NY 10036

NEWS

CORPORATION -[Contribution]

KERRY COMMITTEE

MURDOCH, RUPERT

3/29/2001 $1,000.00

NEW YORK, NY 10036

NEWS

CORPORATION -[Contribution]

KERRY COMMITTEE

MURDOCH, K RUPERT

12/1/1999 $1,000.00

BEVERLY HILLS, CA

90210

NEWS CORP./FOX INC -[Contribution]

KENNEDY FOR SENATE 2000

Behrens, David S

4/12/2004

$1,000.00

New York, NY 10017

Newsday/Journalist

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Hall,

Rita

3/17/2004 $2,000.00

Great Neck, NY

11023

Newsday/Artist -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Metz, Andrew

5/28/2004 $245.00

Albany, NY

12224

Newsday/Press -[Contribution]

NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

Bramblett, Reid

5/29/2004

$500.00

Maspeth, NY 11378

Newsweek Budget Travel/Associate Ed

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Enslow, Anne

3/23/2004

$1,000.00

Hoboken, NJ 07030

Newsweek/Health And Medical Reporte

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Fuzesi, Stephen Jr.

12/16/2003

$200.00

Greenwich, CT 06830

Newsweek Inc/Lawyer/Chief Counsel

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL

COMMITTEE

Powell, William J. Mr. Jr.

2/20/2000

$500.00

New York, NY 10019

Newsweek Magazine/Journalist

-[Contribution]

MCCAIN 2000 INC

Powell, William J. Mr. Jr.

2/26/2000

$500.00

New York, NY 10019

Newsweek Magazine/Journalist

-[Contribution]

MCCAIN 2000 INC

Wall, Carolyn Ms.

5/11/1999

$1,000.00

Stamford, CT 06903

Newsweek Magazine/Executive

-[Contribution]

BILL BRADLEY FOR PRESIDENT INC

O-P-Q-R

MCKIBBEN,

P SCOTT

12/31/2003

$1,000.00

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

OAKLAND TRIBUNE -[Contribution]

FRIENDS OF

GEORGE ALLEN

MCKIBBEN,

P SCOTT

12/31/2003 $1,000.00

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

OAKLAND TRIBUNE

-[Contribution]

FRIENDS OF

GEORGE ALLEN

Beinart,

Jean

3/5/2003 $250.00

New York, NY 10023

People Magazine/Deputy Art

Director -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Karlin,

Lisa

9/25/2003 $500.00

Brooklyn, NY 11201

People Magazine/Journalist

-[Contribution]

CLARK FOR

PRESIDENT INC

Pottick,

Kathleen J

12/23/2003

$325.00

Ringoes, NJ 08551

Philadelphia inquirer/TV Critic

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR

AMERICA

Erman,

Michael

3/21/2004

$250.00

New York, NY 10009

Reuters/Journalist -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Selles,

Dennis M

9/29/2003

$250.00

Denver, CO 80209

Rocky Mountain News/Copy Editor

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES

CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Swanson,

David M Mr.

3/30/2004

$202.00

New York, NY 10028

Rolling Stone Magazine/Journalist

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Swanson,

David M Mr.

3/30/2004 $202.00

New York, NY 10028

Rolling Stone

Magazine/Journalist -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Topham,

Edward M

4/3/2004

$2,000.00

New York, NY 10014

Rolling Stone Magazine/Writer

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Tsang,

Teri E Ms.

4/13/2004

$202.00

New York, NY 10003

Rolling Stone/Pr -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Wenner,

Jann S Mr.

9/30/2003

$1,000.00

New York, NY 10104

Rolling Stones/Owner -[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES

CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Wenner,

Jann S.

10/30/2003

$2,000.00

NY, NY 10104

Rolling Stones/Founder -[Contribution]

SHARPTON

2004

S-T-U-V

Homan,

Rebecca

5/25/2004

$200.00

Saint Louis, MO 63112

St.

Louis Post Dispatch/Journalist -[Contribution]

JOHN

KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Kerth,

Susan

3/31/2003

$500.00

Saint Louis, MO 63144

St.

Louis Post Dispatch/Writer -[Contribution]

GEPHARDT

FOR PRESIDENT INC.

Kerth,

Susan

9/30/2003 $500.00

Saint Louis,

MO 63144

St. Louis Post Dispatch/Writer

-[Contribution]

GEPHARDT

FOR PRESIDENT INC.

Kerth,

Susan

12/30/2003 $500.00

Saint Louis,

MO 63144

St. Louis Post Dispatch/Writer

-[Contribution]

GEPHARDT

FOR PRESIDENT INC.

Mieszkowski,

Katharine Ms.

6/16/2003

$200.00

San Francisco, CA 94133

Salon.com/Writer -[Contribution]

EMILY'S

LIST

Talbot,

David

4/7/2003

$500.00

San Francisco, CA 94110

Salon

Media Group/Editor -[Contribution]

DEAN

FOR AMERICA

Pates,

William G Mr.

3/25/2004

$200.00

San Francisco, CA 94133

San Francisco Chronicle/Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

KELLY,

CAROLYN

12/10/2003

$250.00

SEATTLE, WA 98119

SEATTLE TIMES -[Contribution]

PEOPLE FOR

PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN

Tiller,

Anne

2/9/2004

$900.00

Seattle, WA 98107

Seattle Times/Online Art -[Contribution]

CLARK FOR

PRESIDENT INC

Hoag,

Alex

6/30/2003

$500.00

Minneapolis, MN 55401

Star Tribune/Vice President

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Halaki,

Helga Ms.

5/3/2004

$1,000.00

New York, NY 10024

Time Magazine Time Inc./Editorial/E

-[Contribution]

NADER FOR

PRESIDENT 2004

Halaki,

Helga Ms.

5/20/2004 $200.00

New York, NY 10024

Time Magazine Time

Inc./Editorial/E -[Contribution]

NADER FOR

PRESIDENT 2004

Bardach,

Martha

6/12/2002

$250.00

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Time Magazine/Journalist

-[Contribution]

FRIENDS OF

ELLE K KURPIEWSKI FOR CONGRESS

Sachs,

Andrea

8/8/2001

$1,000.00

New York, NY 10023

Time Magazine/Senior Reporter

-[Contribution]

FRIENDS OF

DAVID FINK

Carter,

Joanne W. Ms.

8/9/1999

$200.00

Brooklyn, NY 11233

Time Magazine -[Contribution]

GORE 2000

INC

TOBIAS,

ANDREW

5/3/2000

$500.00

MIAMI, FL 33138

TIME MAGAZINE -[Contribution]

KENNEDY FOR

SENATE 2000

Burgheim,

Richard

3/31/2004

$2,000.00

New York, NY 10024

Time Inc/Magazine Editor

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

GARTON,

KEITH

8/29/2003

$500.00

NEW YORK, NY 10016

TIME INC -[Contribution]

FRIENDS OF

HILLARY

Garton,

Keith Mr.

8/18/2003

$1,500.00

New York, NY 10016

Time Inc Time Warner/Publisher

-[Contribution]

DNC SERVICES

CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Osheyack,

Daniel

3/9/2004

$250.00

New York, NY 10014

Time Incorporated/Magazine Publishi

-[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Peacock,

Chris

7/18/2003

$250.00

New York, NY 10002

Time Inc./Journalist -[Contribution]

DEAN FOR

AMERICA

O'Donnell,

Jayne

3/27/2003

$250.00

Mc Lean, VA 22101

USA Today/Journalist -[Contribution]

DEAN FOR

AMERICA

Shriver,

Jerry Dean

6/12/2003

$1,000.00

New York, NY 10019

USA Today/Journalist -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Willing,

Richard T Jr

2/5/2003

$250.00

Mc Lean, VA 22101

USA Today/Reporter -[Contribution]

DEAN FOR

AMERICA

Willing,

Richard T Jr

3/31/2003 $250.00

Mc Lean, VA 22101

USA Today/Reporter

-[Contribution]

DEAN FOR

AMERICA

O'Shaughnessy,

Elise

1/21/2004

$2,000.00

New York, NY 10025

Vanity Fair/Editor -[Contribution]

DEAN FOR

AMERICA

Peretz,

Evgenia

9/30/2003

$250.00

New York, NY 10013

Vanity Fair/Writer -[Contribution]

CLARK FOR

PRESIDENT INC

W-X-Y-Z

Sender,

Henny

5/31/2004

$300.00

New York, NY 10025

The Wall Street Journal -[Contribution]

JOHN KERRY

FOR PRESIDENT INC

Arnold,

Gary Mr.

6/11/2003

$300.00

Arlington, VA 22203

Washington Times/Journalist/ Movie

-[Contribution]

REPUBLICAN

NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Arnold,

Gary Mr.

4/12/2004 $300.00

Arlington, VA 22203

Washington

Times/Journalist/ Movie -[Contribution]

REPUBLICAN

NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Forwarded Message:
Subj: Your Inquiry
Date: 7/13/2004 4:38:22 PM Central Daylight Time
From: mathis@nytimes.com
To: MPetrelis@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)


Dear Mr. Petrelis,

You are correct that three out of the four people mentioned in your e-mail
are not subject to The New York Times newspaper's code of conduct on
political contributions. We will look into the situation with Ms. Stewart
but we do not publicly discuss such personnel issues.

Sincerely,

Catherine Mathis
VP, Corporate Communications
The New York Times Company
212-556-1981 (office)
917-593-7425 (cell)
mathis@nytimes.com

Nice to know Editor and Publisher knows a story when they see it!
^^^

Editor and Publisher

'NY Times' Mag Editor May Have Broken Political Gift Ban

By Joe Strupp

Published: July 12, 2004

NEW YORK An editor at The New York Times Magazine may have violated the newspaper's highly-publicized ban on political campaign contributions with a $1,000 donation to John Kerry's presidential campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Times spokeswoman Catherine Mathis confirmed that the newspaper was looking into the contribution by Elizabeth Stewart, a fashion editor for the Times Magazine, who made the donation on May 20, according to campaign records listed at the PoliticalMoneyLine Web site.

"Right now we are checking," Mathis told E&P. "We would certainly tell the employee this is in violation of the policy, but we never discuss disciplinary action."

Stewart, who is based in Los Angeles, could not be reached for comment Monday. A review of campaign records indicated three other Times employees also had given to the Kerry campaign this year, but none are in the editorial department.

"The policy does not apply to non-newsroom employees," Mathis said.

Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is senior editor for E&P.

July 12, 2004

Catherine Mathis
Director of Communications
The New York Times

Dear Ms. Mathis:

According to new Federal Election Commission records, employees of the New York Times, including a fashion editor for the Sunday Magazine and a former metro desk editor, have donated money to Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign, despite a company ban on such donations.

FEC files show the following:

- On May 25, Elizabeth Stewart, of the Sunday Magazine's fashion pages, contributed $1,000 to Kerry's campaign.

- Former editor for the metro section, Alan Flippen, on May 13 donated $250 to Kerry, and in his FEC file lists his job at The Times as "labor relations."

- William Usuik, from the paper's communications department, sent a check for $1,000 to Kerry on May 20.

- And Douglas Andersen, who listed his New York Times position as "manager," contributed $250 to Kerry's effort back in March. [1, 2]

It is my understanding that the paper's policy prohibiting political donations applies only to editorial staff, so it certainly seems as though among the recent Times donors, only Stewart has violated your standards.

“Staff members may not themselves give money to, or raise money for, any political candidate or election cause. Given the ease of Internet access to public records of campaign contributors, any political giving by a times staff member would carry a great risk of feeding a false impression that the paper is taking sides,” states the code. [3]

Although the prohibition does not officially cover the three other recent Times donors who favor Kerry, there is the appearance that a few of the paper's employees from various divisions, back the Democratic presidential contender.

As a shareholder and a reader, I'd like to know if the ethics and standards editor will demand Stewart get her money refunded, and be reprimanded for breaching company policy.

A prompt reply is requested.

Regards,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
415-621-6267

Sources:
1. Political Money Line
2. FEC site
3. NYT code of ethics

FEC records:

Andersen, Douglas
3/4/2004 $250.00
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
The New York Times Company/Manager -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Stewart, Elizabeth
5/20/2004 $1,000.00
Santa Monica, CA 90402
NY Times Magazine/Fashion Editor -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Flippen, Alan
5/13/2004 $250.00
New York, NY 10036
New York Times Co./Labor relations -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Usuik, William
5/20/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10014
New York Times/Communications -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

In America, most people accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty, but that presumption is not extended to the founder of Enron, Kenneth Lay.

The White House and Bush/Cheney reelection campaign officials distanced themselves from Lay, although he was one of the largest donors to Bush's campaigns, and made significant contributions to Republican PACs and candidates.

Democratic presidential challenger Sen. John Kerry, who has not accepted a dime from Lay, in a speech last week to Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition, made reference to recent big business scandals.

"Our tax codes have gone from 14 pages to 17,000 pages. Let me ask you: Any of you got your own page? Exxon's got its own page. Enron's got its own page. Halliburton's probably got its own chapter," Kerry said.

Doesn't sound to me as though Kerry looks too kindly on these corporations and their ways of conducting business.

But that didn't stop Kerry's campaign's from accepting a $250 donation from an Enron accountant back in May, which is the only check he received from the firm's employees for presidential bid. His senatorial campaign in 2001 cashed a $1,000 check from an executive of Enron Wind, a subsidiary of the firm.

(Today's Boston Herald ran a story by reporter David R. Guarino about Lay's ties to Kerry and his wife Teresa, which claims Kerry returned the $1,000, but I can't locate any Federal Election Commission records showing he indeed gave back that money. [1] )

Kerry also raked in $3,999 from two Halliburton employees this year.

Exxon leaders and employees have coughed up $13,550 so far in 2004 for Kerry's White House aspirations.

Sen. John Edwards received no donations from Enron and Halliburton employees, but he did get $1,000 in February from an Exxon manager for his presidential campaign.

The subtotal amount Kerry and Edwards have received from these three corporations is $19,799.

The Democratic National Committee is also not adverse to cashing checks from these corporations.

In the current election cycle, two Enron lawyers donated $1,750 to the DNC Services Corporation, while an Exxon tax advisor, two lawyers and a geologist contributed $4,340, and one Halliburton attorney contributed $200. Subtotal in these donations comes to $6,290.

Total amount received by Kerry, Edwards and the DNC from Enron, Exxon and Halliburton in just recent campaign cycles is $26,089. [2,3,4]

In the grand scheme of American politics, that is an extremely paltry amount of money, but it is also an enormously embarrassing symbol of something wrong with how we elect our officeholders.

We allow candidates to criticize some big businesses and their leaders, especially when accused of wrongdoing, but give politicians a pass on using contributions from the same corporations' executives and employees.

As America waits for Kenneth Lay to go on trial, I'll watch Kerry, Edwards and the DNC use tainted corporate dollars on their road to the White House.

Sources:
1. Boston Herald story
2. Open Secrets
3. Political Money Line
4. Federal Election Commission

Over the long Fourth of July holiday weekend I cruised the web trying to find and examine Sen. John Kerry's FBI files, but alas, they were not to be found.

You may recall that back in March, portions of Kerry's FBI files gathered over many years by Gerald Nicosia, a Marin County-based journalist and staunch Kerry supporter, were shown to the Los Angeles Times, and the paper ran a story about the files on March 22.

The Associated Press, in a March 23 wire story about Kerry's files, quoted him saying, "We're suddenly learning about [the FBI records] because I am about to be the nominee of the party, and the Republicans are very good at finding records that have been lost for a long period of time, particularly when they control the government."

But that wasn't the case at all, as reported in the Los Angeles Times, which showed how Nicosia collected some of his Kerry FBI files because he made Freedom of Information Act requests back in the 1990s, for the files on Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Kerry was a leader of the group in the early 1970s.

Then on May 5 the A.P. sent out a story based on the more than 9,000 pages of FBI files on VVAW, some of which pertained to Kerry. The A.P. used a FOIA request to pry the documents loose from the FBI.

In that A.P. story, Kerry welcomed the release of these records.

"I think it's great. I'm very proud of my efforts to end the war. I welcome anybody's perusal of them. I'm proud that I stood up to Richard Nixon. And you know, I personally have also requested those documents. So I'm happy to have them out there. It's terrific," Kerry said.

Some Kerry detractors will say he flip-flopped on the issue of some of his FBI files being shown to an LA Times reporter this March, and the records on VVAW obtained by the A.P. in May, but I don't agree. Kerry's position on the many FBI files related to him and his antiwar activities simply evolved over the months.

What I think is important about his May quote is that he welcomes the public's perusal of the VVAW files.

Glad to learn that, but the VVAW's FBI records have not been made available to the public by the A.P., which, as a news organization, is under no obligation to share its source materials. Nor has the FBI posted a single page from the 9,000-plus pages VVAW file on its web site. Same goes for Kerry. You won't find any pages from his FBI dossier on his campaign web site.

All this background on Kerry and his FBI file got me thinking about the records the agency must have on Kerry's running mate Sen. John Edwards, President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, independent candidate Ralph Nader, and his veep pick, leftist economist Peter Camejo.

After much searching, I couldn't locate any news articles or source materials on any FBI files for these other candidates, leading me to wonder why Kerry alone has been singled out thus far by the media for scrutiny over his FBI records.

Journalistic balance, and the long-forgotten ideal of treating all presidential and vice presidential candidates to the same standards, requires the same media outlets that wrote about Kerry's FBI records to get on the stick about the files on the other men.

To jump start that process, I today filed FOIA requests with the Department of Justice for the FBI files on Kerry, Bush, Nader, Cheney, Edwards and Camejo, and I have invoked the expedited processing clause of FOIA to hopefully have the files provided to me within ten calendar days.

Below is the letter and statement faxed and snail mailed to DOJ this afternoon. Similar ones, using the individual names of the candidates instead of Kerry's, were also sent today.

At this point in the 2004 presidential race, and as America celebrates 228 years of democracy, now is the time for all presidential candidates and their running mates to request and release their FBI on the web.

Let the public and voters peruse such FBI files and decide how best to use that information to vote this November.

(Full disclosure: I am the San Francisco volunteer coordinator for the Nader/Camejo ticket, and sent Nader a check for $10 in March.)
^^^

July 6, 2004

Mark Corallo
Director of Public Affairs
U.S. Department of Justice
10th & Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530

RE: Expedited FOIA request for Sen. John Kerry's FBI file

Dear Mr. Corallo:

Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, I am writing to request expedited processing for a copy of all of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's files on Sen. John Kerry, D-MA.

As you know, the Department of Justice's FOIA web site says the agency will expedite FOIA requests, "by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information to the public and the information is urgently needed to inform the public concerning some actual or alleged government activity ... [and DOJ] expedites requests when the subject is of widespread and exceptional media interest and the information sought involves possible questions about the government's integrity which affect public confidence."

I believe that as a blogger journalist, I qualify as an individual sharing important information with the public. Furthermore, Sen. Kerry, as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, meets the specifications outlined in DOJ policy for expediting FOIA requests.

Although the Freedom of Information Act does not require DOJ to make FBI files available on the web, I nonetheless ask DOJ to post on the FBI web site any and all files related to Sen. Kerry that you will soon release to me.

Therefore, since FOIA demands you respond to my expedited processing request within ten calendar days, I expect notification by DOJ regarding my request by July 15, 2004.

I look forward to a prompt reply.

Regards,
Michael Petrelis

- - -
STATEMENT
July 6, 2004

Mark Corallo
Director of Public Affairs
U.S. Department of Justice
10th & Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530

RE: Reasons for expedited processing request

Dear Mr. Corallo:

I am a blogger journalist filing an expedited Freedom of Information Act request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's files on Sen. John Kerry, D-MA.

It is my contention Sen. Kerry's files must quickly be released to me, as a blogger journalist, a voter and an American citizen, to better inform the electorate before the November 2, 2004, election for the White House. Voters must have the opportunity to view his files, in order to be as educated as possible about the candidate.

Information from the FBI's files released to me on Sen. Kerry will be widely disseminated through my blog, www.mpetrelis.blogspot.com, and emails.

I certify that the reasons given for expedited release of Sen. Kerry's FBI files are true and correct.

Regards,
Michael Petrelis

Today's "Bad Reporter" cartoon in the S.F. Chronicle is truly funny. It's about a new gun, the Gay-K 47, and how the NRA feels about it.

You can find the cartoon at:

SF Gate

And here's what the New York Post had to say about the "Devouring Dubya," as I call it, ad in The Nation.
^^^

NY Post gossip page

July 2, 2004
NY Post

Page Six
by Richard Johnson

DEMON ART

A SHOCKING image of a blood-spattered President Bush devouring a headless child is causing an uproar. The drawing by sculptor Richard Serra, based on a painting by Goya, is being used to promote pleasevote.com, billed as "a call to vote the Bush administration out of office." It appears on the back cover of The Nation's July 5 issue. Ironically, Serra, a past recipient of NEA grants, was once praised by First Lady Laura Bush in a White House press release about one of his pieces at a Texas museum. His "Tilted Arc" once graced (or defaced) Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan until it was destroyed in 1989. Pundit Andrew Sullivan labeled the Bush image "an obscenity" and "simple demonization."

When I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's San Francisco office in May 2003, I expected, at most, to get back ten, maybe a dozen, pages.

The agency three months ago released to me 269 pages of the 273 file the local office has on me. I reacted with shock and awe at the rather voluminous file. After recovering my balance, I filed an appeal for the four pages withheld by the FBI.

Poring over my FBI file, I learned how extensive the effort was by taxpayer-subsidized AIDS researchers, prevention experts and epidemiologists at the University of California at San Francisco to have me charged in late 2001 under the USA Patriot Act, as a domestic terrorist.

How did my file compare to the one compiled by the FBI on the Gay Activists Alliance in the early 1970s, I wondered. Google quickly provided me the answer.

The FBI file on GAA is only 135 pages long, much smaller than mine. Not that I'm a size queen about these matters, but it's a small badge of honor to have an FBI file, as an individual, larger than the one it has on an organization. [1, 2]

Reading the GAA document was a history lesson for me. The FBI file includes portions of GAA's Constitution and Bylaws, in which they proudly proclaim, "We as liberated homosexual activists demand the freedom for expression of our dignity . . . [and] an immediate end to all oppression of homosexuals." Much of the file explains what the FBI knew about GAA's planned zaps and other actions at the 1972 Democratic and GOP party conventions in Miami.

The wonder awful thing about the GAA file is the richness of detail about the state of our movement, at least on the East Coast, and how organized the activists were, before our community was fully legal.

Who were the brave pioneers under surveillance by the federal agents, some of whom were questioned and investigated by the G-men?

In a memo from the FBI's Miami bureau dated June 19, 1972, the agents were "furnished a list of Gay organizations along with their leaders who will be attending the Miami Democratic and Republican Conventions. This list consisting of five pages is enclosed."

The name that stands out most is that of Ann Woytow, of the White House Vigilers [sic] for Peace, because of the address, "1600 Penn Avenue, Sidewalk, Washington, DC 20002."

(Um, Ms. Woytow, were expecting the post office to deliver your mail by mistake to the residence behind the iron fence on the sidewalk you list as your address? Oh, we don't see enough of such characters that much today, and I wish we did.)

When the FBI released the GAA file in 1999, and posted it on the web, a news release was issued, leading me to think there must have been stories about the file and its contents, in both the mainstream and gay press, but after a few on line searches, I could not find one. [3]

Did I miss those articles back in 1999? If I did, and you have copies, or know where I can locate them on the web, please let me know.

And if you haven't already done so, make a FOIA request with the FBI and see what the agency may have on you.

Sources:
1. FBI GAA file, pt. 1
2. FBI GAA file, pt. 2
3. FBI news release on GAA file