Why journalists on the NYT can't put stickers on their cars

Via the Huffington Post.

Staff working for the New York Times have been reminded by their leaders that they must not show any political alliegences during the forthcoming Presidential campaign.

According to the New York Observer

The Times standards editor, Craig Whitney, recently was on a road-trip and while on the trip, saw some political bumper stickers. Said stickers are not the sort of stuff for Times reporters and editors, he writes, nor should they contribute money to any political candidates.

And he sent out this memo

Journalists have no place on the playing fields of politics. Staff members are entitled to vote, but they must do nothing that might raise questions about their professional neutrality or that of The Times. In particular, they may not campaign for, demonstrate for, or endorse candidates, ballot causes or efforts to enact legislation. They may not wear campaign buttons or themselves display any other insignia of partisan politics. They should recognize that a bumper sticker on the family car or a campaign sign on the lawn may be misread as theirs, no matter who in their household actually placed the sticker or the sign.

Staff members may not themselves give money to, or raise money for, any political candidate or election cause. Given the ease of Internet access to public records of campaign contributors, any political giving by a Times staff member would carry a great risk of feeding a false impression that the paper is taking sides.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Craig Whitney