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Setting the record straight
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"Conflict of interest" ranks alongside "plagiarism" and "fake sources" as the severest accusation that can be leveled against a reporter, even in this age of ambiguous internet journalism.
I have been publicly accused of a conflict of interest, so I'd like to set the record straight here.
A reader commenting on my previous post about the District 3 candidates debate said that I am working in candidate Tony Gantner's campaign. If true, that would be a clear conflict of interest, indeed. If true, my only ethical course of action would be to not write about the race at all.
Except I'm not working for Tony Gantner's campaign, or anyone else's.
I am writing for Gantner's District 3 Herald, the newspaper he started to coincide with his campaign. But I was recruited, along with a number of other District 3 journalists, to provide coverage of stories relevant to this district. We are paid for our work and I accepted the gig with the clear understanding that I was doing so as an independent journalist, not a mouthpiece for Gantner's campaign.
As I told Gantner at the beginning, "I'm not even sure I'm voting for you." Like any informed voter should do, I'm waiting to see what all the candidates have to offer before making up my mind. I'm getting the feeling it might be a long wait.
I've accepted the Herald assignments for two reasons: for the easy dough, and because the District 3 Herald is the only paper making a serious effort to cover North Beach-related issues. None of the so-called dailies bother with us, that's for sure. I took on this North Beach Examiner gig for the same reason. This ain't exactly funding my retirement, you know?
Next time you (yeah, you) want to accuse me of violating journalistic ethics, check your facts first. And then be a man about it and accuse me to my face. I'll drink you under the table, pal.
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