The Schrammie: An inexplicable move
It puts a question mark on their impartiality.
And it was their boss who eroded their objectivity.
So if Frank Blethen, publisher of the Seattle Times, would just stop the presses for a moment, I'd like him to come on down.
Frank thought it would be a good idea for the newspaper to pay for some political advertisements.
One was bought for gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna, another for the ballot measure to legalize same sex marriage.
Tens of thousands of dollars spent to the chagrin and embarrassment of the paper's journalists.
It was a corporate decision that has since been roundly criticized as a threat to the well-earned credibility of the news department.
It could easily leave readers with the impression that the times is playing political patty cake, putting news objectivity at question.
The explanation for this inexplicable move is that Frank wants to demonstrate the power of newspaper advertising.
I suppose Frank didn't consider that the residual effect might be undermining intangibles like respect, ethics and journalistic integrity.
So, if Frank would hold tightly to that newest Pulitzer prize the Seattle Times was awarded, I'd like him to take a bow, because this "Schrammie" is for him.
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Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
And it was their boss who eroded their objectivity.
So if Frank Blethen, publisher of the Seattle Times, would just stop the presses for a moment, I'd like him to come on down.
Frank thought it would be a good idea for the newspaper to pay for some political advertisements.
One was bought for gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna, another for the ballot measure to legalize same sex marriage.
Tens of thousands of dollars spent to the chagrin and embarrassment of the paper's journalists.
It was a corporate decision that has since been roundly criticized as a threat to the well-earned credibility of the news department.
It could easily leave readers with the impression that the times is playing political patty cake, putting news objectivity at question.
The explanation for this inexplicable move is that Frank wants to demonstrate the power of newspaper advertising.
I suppose Frank didn't consider that the residual effect might be undermining intangibles like respect, ethics and journalistic integrity.
So, if Frank would hold tightly to that newest Pulitzer prize the Seattle Times was awarded, I'd like him to take a bow, because this "Schrammie" is for him.
---
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
Journalistic 'objectivity' is about as out of date as government political party collaboration.... both a thing of the past which is too bad and beyond sad.
"It could easily leave readers with the impression that the times is playing political patty cake, putting news objectivity at question." - Really, Ken? What newspaper out there doesn't play 'political patty cake'? There is no such thing as unbiased reporting anymore and it's quite sad that the agencies who are paid to provide the news can't do so without putting a slant on it. Unfortunately, it's necessary these days to look at multiple news agency's stories and then assume that the truth is somewhere in the middle. But please don't act surprised, Ken.
Can't believe that rag is still in business.
I wonder how many of those "journalists" would have objected if he had paid for democrat ads.
 @subcaller Did you read the part where he paid for pro gay marriage ads?
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@caphillkid @subcaller - people who want to flame dems will do it no matter what the facts are.
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It's too bad too - because all it does is make the flamer look stupid.
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 @FormerMarineSgt Hahahaha..... you democrats wouldn't flame a republican eh? Never any name calling from dems in this forum eh?
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I choose no political party because the entire leadership in this country is a corrupt dog and pony show. As I read the comments in these forums I see extremists flaming each other from both sides.
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You are correct in flames being tossed around, except you didn't mention the two way traffic.
@FormerMarineSgt.... flamer? Can we say "hater"?
Years ago, I worked with someone who was a journalist for several newspapers, magazines, and television for 20 years who said every media outlet was biased in some way and someone was buying the news and what they wanted posted.
How is this any different than a newspaper endorsing a candidate? Seems to me every paper has done it since long before I was born. In fact most candidates make a point of mentioning it when a paper does endorse them.
 @BobDobbs When papers endorse candidates, they don't buy ads in their own papers to promote those candidates.Â
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The Seattle Times is now the 3rd largest donor to the McKenna campaign. Â
@BobDobbs Because that is done on the editorial page, not in the news section
I cant disagree, Ken. I'm so disappointed in Blethen & the Times for allowing this.
OH gee Ken you and KOMO and all the lame stream media has their noses is so far up Obama's arse that you all would need two by fours nailed to your feet so if he stopped suddenly we could pull you out!
 @wynooheeman Is there an actual point you are trying to make? This has to do with journalistic integrity. It's a matter of putting Times reporters between a rock and a hard place!
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@Schrambo journalistic integraty that is a hoot. Komo coulld not have a nanogram of integrity. It is called the free press it is called the owner doing what he wants with his paper not bowing to the sycophents of the press KOMO and all the others that parrot the todays talking points. Congress aproval is low the main stream media is even lower. say sothing like if your a reporter a slim ball used car sales man has better integrity then a reporter.
 @wynooheeman You are the only one talking about President Obama here... Hmmm....
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 @wynooheeman This issue is clearly too complicated for you to understand.Â
The Seattle Times. Fair and Balanced...Yep smells like Faux news to me.Â
 @NoKitty666 It stinks to high heaven. .... or hell. Â
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Ken,
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You seem to be operating under the fiction of an impartial and objective media. Wake and smell the bias. I'd rather have honest bias, that the hypocrisy of today's 4th Estate which has become a 5th Column.
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The Stranger is the most honest media in Seattle, it's honest about it's position. Radio, TV, Print are all lying their a**es off claim to be objective and non-partisan.
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Why do think the old "objective" media is dying? People smell the rank decay of hypocrisy in the old media, and turn to new media which is proudly and honestly biased.
I agree with everything said by Ken here. Â I still wonder if the paper had paid for ads supporting same sex marriage, and Jay Inslee, if there would be any uproar at all? Â
 @Eichler4 yes.
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@Eichler4 - you clearly didn't read the story for comprehension.  They DID run an ad supporting the gay marriage referendum.
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And yes - even us dems would be upset (and for damm sure you right wingers would be) if they ran an ad supporting Inslee.
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The paper is a commercial enterprise. Pretty much dare anyone to find ONE paper, website, radio station, or television channel that ISN'T biased in some way. Are political ads run by other people in the times? If so, then the paper itself running them isn't so far off the mark, especially since they also take an editorial stand on candidates and issues that are frequently aligned directly to the paper.
The Seattle Times journalists are wusses for only submitting a letter to management to voice their complaint. They should have shut the Times down by walking out and staged a real protest.
 @Tooby Roosday Agree.  So passive here
Seriously Ken, if you wanted people to think retain any thought of ethics and journalist integrity, you would have had to have shut up a long time ago!
 @Commenter87643 You know Ken is not a journalist right? Â
 @Andrew Bush He's part of the media regardless of title. Wasn't Ken telling us how to vote just a few days ago? He's just a part of the komo propaganda machine.
@Andrew Bush @Commenter87643 yeah ken is a Unrinalist!
@chicagochuck: Way wrong and will point out that I've been a vocal and consistent advocate for marriage equality - which as I noted, the Times is also advertising for Ref 74. As MPS noted, get your facts correct.
Tens of thousands of dollars spent to the chagrin and embarrassment of the paper's journalists....
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Really Kenny? They're upset because the union that they belong to is liberal & supports Inslee.
They're upset because the paper did not march lock & step with them.
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You know that, don't you Kenny.....are you a member of the same?...who does your union support?
 @Sydthepiper Are you really that short sighted?  Most people are upset about them using news paper funds for ANY political advertisement. I'm completely for the yes on 74 campaign but im still upset that the Times put in that news paper funded ad as well. The person who made this decision is contributing to the decline of US news media.
@quidproquo @Sydthepiper so when a paper writes a editorial supporting one candidate over the other then what is that called? advertisement paid for by the paper.
 @quidproquo US media, with it's perpetual liberal bent has been declining for years....this actual adds balance if you take time and read between the lines.
My family wrote-off the Seattle Times many years ago, for reasons I don't want to bring up again (not good ones). Â
meh.....all of our media around here is compromised in some such way.
Yes, and if they supported Inslee, Ken, you would have been strangely silent!
 @Chicagochuck I dont think so. I certainly wouldn't have been. An organization that claims to be news shouldn't back any candidate outside the opinions and editorial page.
 @Chicagochuck I often disagree with Ken, but you are dead nuts wrong on this.  History has shown that he would NOT have been strangely silent.  He holds both sides of the aisle to account.  If you are going to criticize, at least get your facts straight.  You are probably one of those people who think political parties are 100 percent right on everything, or 100 percent wrong on everything.  I bet you've never voted Democrat in your life, event when the Democrat was the best candidate.  Not to mention the irony of somebody from the politically dirtiest city, in the politically dirtiest state in The Union weighing in on politics. Â
 @MPS "He holds both sides of the aisle to account."
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You're describing Ken Schram?! Haha......hehehe..... BWAAAaaHAAAaaaaahaha!!
Nothing unusual. All MSM back certain candidates in elections. Its their right if they want to but it of course also means they are bias. MSM is just for light coverage of issues. If you want to know what the issues or candidates are really about you have to go on line and research to get the facts.
 @Blindman That doesn't work on McKenna and Romney websites. Â
You don't go to official websites, you find nothing but propaganda their. Just go to actual investigative journalists out on the web that love to dig for facts. @Andrew Bush  @Blindman
 @Andrew Bush  @Blindman I see someone woke up the troll.
 @Gino Nope... Just because a troll accuses others of being trolls doesn't make it so..  Â
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The proof is in the pudding
 @Andrew Bush Oh? You mean like the ones you've been spamming this board with?
 @Gino  LOl poor Gino... Don't you realize anyone can click on your name and see nothing but one line troll comments?  Â
The Seattle Tea Party Times. Â Â
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Respect, Ethics and Journalistic Integrity have been replaced with a misspelled sign with tea bags stapled to it. Â
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I bet some reporters updated their resumes excluding their tenure at Fox... ah, Â I mean the Tea times. Â Â : )
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