Petrelis Files

NYT Rebuffs Transparency Call For
McCain & Obama Editorial Meetings

Earlier this week I suspected that John McCain and Barack Obama, because they were both spending time in the New York City area, were probably taking out time from campaigning and debate preparation to meet with the editorial board of the New York Times, as the paper readies its presidential endorsement.

Okay, maybe McCain and his advisers, with their disdain for the Times, weren't actively seeking the paper's endorsement, but if invited to meet with the editorial board, McCain might take them up on the invitation.

I sent a note to Catherine Mathis, NYT communications director, asking that they allow the public see the interviews with the candidates, as part of the paper's commitment to editorial transparency.

Unfortunately, she replied that the Times will not allow the sun to shine in on the process that produces their presidential endorsement.

Regardless of which man the NYT backs, I would have liked it if the paper permitted me to see how the candidates comported themselves during the interview process, not to mention also rate the Times people doing the questioning.

Maybe by 2012, the NYT will follow the great example of the Des Moines Register, and not only tape the interviews with the candidates, but also share the tapes on the web.

Here is my email to the Times:

Hello Catherine,

I hope you're well today.

I am writing to you because I'd like to know if the editorial board of the New York Times has interviewed John McCain and Barack Obama, as part of the paper's endorsement process.

If the board hasn't done so, does it have plans in the near future to speak with the candidates?

Finally, if the NYT editorial board interviews either or both candidates before deciding which one to back in the November election, will you all tape the interviews and share them on the web with readers?

It's my hope, as both a Times shareholder and reader, that the paper follows the lead of the Des Moines Register editorial board in its recent meeting with John McCain.

The transparency of the Register's endorsement process is a fabulous leap forward in modern journalism, a leap I'd like to see the Times follow.

As always, a prompt reply would be very appreciated.

Sincerely yours,
Michael

And this is the NYT reply:

Hi Michael,

We don't discuss our editorial board decisions, especially before we have written the editorial in question.

Hope all is well with you.

Best,
Catherine