Petrelis Files

I received a voicemail message two days ago from the woman who handles public inquiries for the Seattle Times, responding to my concerns about political donations from the paper's editorial and non-news staffs.

Unlike the New York Times, the Boston Globe and other publications that bar editorial staff from contributing to candidates and causes, the Seattle Times does not maintain such a prohibition.

I don't have problems with papers allowing reporters and editors to give to politicians, but do I think publication should go to great lengths to disclose such donations.

In my post the other day about donations from Seattle Times employees, I failed to include the following two listings from the company that owns the paper and its publisher, which come from www.tray.com.

BLETHEN CORPORATION
2/29/2000 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98111
-[[Receipt--exempt from limits]]
DCCCC NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNT #1

BLETHEN, FRANK A
3/13/1992 $500.00
SEATTLE, WA 98111
SEATTLE TIMES -[Contribution]
DANIEL K INOUYE IN '92

If you want to reach Kerry Coughlin at the Seattle Times, her phone number is 206-464-3318.

Here is the transcript of her voicemail message.
^^^

Wednesday, August 25, 2004, at 5:32 P.M.

"Hi Michael. It's Kerry Coughlin [public relations manager] at the Seattle Times. I had a chance to look at your message and also discuss it with [executive editor] Mike Fancher, so I'm responding for both of us. But I just wanted to get back with you.

"In looking at the list, one of the things we both noticed is that the majority of people on the list are non news employees. They are employees from elsewhere in the organization. And we don't have any policy at the Times prohibiting non newsroom employees from making a personal political organization. We don't do anything, we don't do it on behalf of the company, but they are not prohibited from making personal contributions because it doesn't affect anything with news judgment.

"And on the news side, there were a couple folks in there maybe, but we don't specifically prohibit news people from making contributions. It's not an absolute, firm, in all cases. We do discourage it, and the policy is clear, however, that staff members should make sure they avoid any active involvement in partisan causes that would compromise their credibility or the reader's trust in the newspaper's ability to report it fairly. But again, there's discretion there if it's something that they would not have anything to do with.

"For example on the list there might have been a reporter who was an arts and entertainment reporter and made a contribution outside of her coverage area to a legislative candidate. So we didn't see necessarily an issue.

But, anyway, appreciate the look at the list and we'll review the appropriate list of whatever contributions with any individuals and editors. But anyway, so, that's essentially where it is. And thanks for getting in touch with us. Bye bye."