CREW Decries Post's Failure to Disclose Novak Connection With SBVB

[Nambe]

U.S. Newswire

Earlier today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a letter to the Washington Post criticizing the paper for failing to reveal that columnist Robert Novak's August 9th column praising "Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry" directly benefits Novak's son, Alex Novak, the director of marketing for the book's publisher, Regnery.

CREW's Executive Director Melanie Sloan stated, "By praising the book in his column, Robert Novak provided Regnery with tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of free advertising. Clearly, any publisher, much less a small one without a substantial marketing budget, would be thrilled by the exposure Novak's column provided.

I hope Alex Novak thanked his father for the assistance." Sloan continued, "The Washington Post should be embarrassed that it allowed itself to be used by Robert Novak to hawk a book on his son's behalf."

CREW noted that The New York Times, which does not carry Novak's columns, revealed the connection in an August 30th article. When questioned as to why he had failed to disclose the link, Novak said that it was "irrelevant."

In a letter to the Post's Editor in Chief Leonard Downie, Jr. CREW listed numerous recent examples in which Post reporters disclosed even minor connections with the subjects of their articles and asked for an explanation as to why Novak was not required to provide the same sort of disclosure. CREW also asked why the Post failed to disclose the link even after the Times had revealed it.

CREW asked the Post whether its disclosure standards differ for reporters and editorial writers and suggested that the Post adopt a rigorous disclosure standard, applicable to all, and refuse to publish material by writers who do not adhere to that standard. ..

Need A Hug Go To The Store!

[whistle]

1. Why is Paul Novak still walking free?

...This man committed a federal crime and high treason.

[Zan_of_Texas]

2. You mean Robert Novak. re Valerie Plame.

[whistle]

7. Right, I once had a college acquaintance named Paul Novak....

...who was equally obnoxious as Robert Novak. That was a Freudian slip and one that I am now going to have to examine in depth, possibly with an analyst....:freak:

[xchrom]

8. shall we begin?

tell me about your mother....

[BJ]

3. Why's his daddy still walking free.

He outed Valerie Plame.

[clydefrand]

4. Paul??? Do you mean Robert Novak?

Why hasn't he been called by the investigators of the Plame leak to reveal his sources when those who didn't break the law and print the leak were made to do so? Novak thinks nothing that the repugs do wrong is irrelevant. Only Dems are. He makes me want to puke.

[DURHAM D]

9. Don't you think that the paper is afraid of Novak's connections -

to the White House and various spook groups. Same for CNN. Too much pay back if they try to purge or control him.

[LittleApple81]

5. I am glad they did write. I am sure it will have no impact. n/t

[A_Possum]

6. Might get a correction issued

But this is a way to publicize the FACT of Novak's personal interest.

[papau]

10. Downie last admitted serious error when he was 2 years old and the

diaper fell off so all good see the shit.

This fellow once implied it did not matter that all I had told him was true re known reasons to hate Clinton being false, because if I knew as much as he did, I'd come to the same conclusions - that Clinton was evil.

He is not a "media whore" - he is a corporate whore of a type I have known far too long.

It is good to be out of management just doing consulting.

:-)