(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced shock over the three-day suspension of two reporters for the “Saint Paul Pioneer Press”, a Saint Paul (Minnesota) daily. Chuck Laszewski and Rick Linsk were suspended for attending an anti-Bush concert, “Vote for Change”, on 5 October 2004. “We are astonished at such a heavy sanction for journalists who attended […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced shock over the three-day suspension of two reporters for the “Saint Paul Pioneer Press”, a Saint Paul (Minnesota) daily. Chuck Laszewski and Rick Linsk were suspended for attending an anti-Bush concert, “Vote for Change”, on 5 October 2004.
“We are astonished at such a heavy sanction for journalists who attended a concert on their own free time and who are now going to lose three days’ pay,” the organisation said.
On 27 September, a week before the concert, “Saint Paul Pioneer Press” editor-in-chief Vicky Gowler circulated a memo to staff saying the newspaper’s ethics policy barred certain employees from pursuing activities that could conflict with their profession. The memo mentioned in particular a ban on attending political fundraising concerts.
When reached by RSF, Laszewski said he felt the memo did not concern him because he belongs to a team of investigative journalists and the memo was addressed to political reporters and staff who work on weekends. He also stressed that he went to a concert and not a political rally and that he has always paid great attention to professional ethics. Laszewski had campaigned for the creation of an ethics committee within the newspaper in 2000.
Meanwhile, Gowler was sticking to her position. She argued that investigative journalists can be required to work weekends and cover sensitive political issues. The Newspaper Guild, the journalists’ union, is contesting the sanctions and has called for arbitration.
Many newspapers in the United States have barred staff from attending this type of concert but, to RSF’s knowledge, this is the first time any journalists have been punished.
