JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

07/16/08 11:45 AM

why isn’t the issue whether it’s OK for journalists to be taken out to lunch by the people they cover?

07/16/08 04:29 PM

Is it standard practice for journalists in the Jewish world to accept free lunches from people whom they write about? I’m surprised that the JTA hasn’t taken this post down, as it certainly casts aspersions on their integrity as a news gathering organization.

07/17/08 08:48 AM

Josh, Ben… It is standard practice in the entire journalism world—and the entire business world—to offer and accept free business lunches with the people with whom they work and cover.

And I believe that every newsroom deals with this differently. Some have no policy. Some call for a cap on how much a reporter can accept in terms of free food. Some simply don’t allow their reporters to accept. And I suspect that the decision has as much to do with the budget of the news organization as it does with fear that a reporter will be swayed to go soft on an organization because of one free meal.

If an editor thinks that his or her reporter could be buttered up in any way—be it by a free meal or a press junket or any other perk—that editor, if he or she is worth his or her salt, should probably get rid of said reporter.

And our editors here at JTA generally know with whom we are meeting and where. If there was any concern, it would be mentioned.

As for me, I feel no obligation to write nice about someone or something just because they buy me some grub, be it nice or standard fare. And anyone who is picking up the tab should understand that.

Besides, think about it this way. Do movie reviewers or theater critics pay for their tickets? Don’t think so. Yet you see plenty of bad reviews out there…

07/23/08 09:37 AM

Guys,

1. Just walk into Prime Grill on any given weekday and you can count the number of Jewish professionals treating themselves to bountiful meals on the expense accounts of their charities.  These are meals they would not pay for themselves.  These are meals that businesses would not pay for.  It is unfortunate, but it is rampant.

2. The question of a journalist’s free lunch extends even further.  What about about a journalist’s free trip abroad?  Five days, six nights all expense paid (with charitable dollars) to cover some conference or event.  Is that ethical for the journalist?  Is that an ethical use of a donors dollars?

BTW, after the Jason Blair mess, the NY Times - not known to some people for its integrity (see GOP talking points) - instituted a no free lunch policy, where NY Times reporters had to pay for the entire meal or “go Dutch” when meeting with people they might be covering.

11/07/09 03:51 PM

I’m checking out Ben Harris’ page on JTA, and though I am not the subject of the comment re being taken to lunch, here are some of my thoughts on this controversy.

I never found being taken to breakfast or lunch as a writer so bad. It’s kind of like working your way across the water in a ship.

You get a few perks as a writer or journalist. I’ve not been bought off yet for a $10 breakfast or $50 lunch. They come too rarely these days, especially something more than $15.

I did an interview with a Baptist Minister recently who took me to lunch. We had a good talk on what it is to give a sermon. I had a hamburger and fries. As Religion Writer for the San Francisco Examiner website, I have to report the hamburger was second rate, but the conversation first rate.

Usually, when it comes to tickets to an event I review, I do pay my own. This just happens, as I feel less beholden to write if I change my mind about doing a piece. But if the event is out of my budget, I let them give me a press ticket. Again, I never shake the feeling I’m there on a job, not to entertain myself solely.

I’m sure JTA has a policy.

As a bank teller, I once got a gift of a bottle of wine for the holidays. I had the job part time. In other jobs, gifts of a modest kind are okay. As a writer, it is a work kind of thing and one doesn’t do it for the pay of a lunch or dinner.

A friend who is a lawyer also wrote on restaurants, doing reviews. She brought me along for company. I can’t remember if it was a gratis deal or she paid. In any event, I didn’t. There it probably wasn’t as fair, but I was glad for the company and no one complained as it gave another opinion on the food. A subject about which I know little, but what I like. That makes my full confession.

Peter Menkin
Mill Valley, CA USA
(north of San Francisco)