Maybe journalists should take a vow of celibacy. That would avoid messy problems like the one that has recently arisen at the LA Times. Let’s call it Grazer-gate.
In case you still haven’t caught up, here’s a recap: LA Times editorial page editor Andrés Martinez is dating publicist Kelly Mullens who works for Allan Mayer who represents Hollywood producer Brian Grazer. Martinez invited Grazer to guest edit this weekend’s Current, the Times‘ Sunday commentary section. Critics, both inside and outside the paper, worried that Grazer’s selection as guest editor had more to do with Martinez’ romance than his ability.
In response, Times publisher David Hiller ordered the section pulled from the paper. Then Martinez quit, saying his effectiveness as editorial page editor had been compromised. He called the decision to pull the section an over-reaction.
Romantic liaisons are among the most common conflicts of interest that newsroom leaders must confront. I probably counsel a professional journalist on this issue every week. Romance runs rampant in the newsroom. So do romantic dissolutions. I’ve heard from a TV reporter dating a homicide detective, an executive editor whose wife was elected to the school board and a reporter who fell in love with the lead prosecutor on a federal case he was covering.
You can’t always control matters of the heart. But you can build a safety net around someone to insulate him or her from making news decisions that involve a romantic interest. Open relationships can be addressed. Secrets cause problems.
Had Martinez let his colleagues and boss know early on about his romance, they could have stepped in with some backup. Then, when Grazer’s name surfaced as a candidate for guest editor, it would have been natural to let someone other than Martinez ask him to join the team. And it would have been easier for Hiller to defend against the criticism.
Because that didn’t happen, Hiller found himself with few good choices when the matter went public this week and people started asking questions. If we’ve learned anything during the past five years of Internet journalism, it’s that questions will arise. Somebody, somewhere, is just waiting to air your secrets. If you don’t already know how you’ll respond, chances are it won’t look good.
There may have been nothing sinister about the Grazer-edited edition of Current. But newsroom leaders don’t have much wiggle room when it comes to the public’s perception of our credibility. Had Hiller been given the time to isolate Martinez from making decisions about his girlfriend’s company, the publisher could have written a nice note explaining all that.
In the end, Hiller chose to yank the section.
As an aside, many traditionalists question the sanity of cozying up to Hollywood types like Grazer. I thought it was an exciting experiment that made sense for a newspaper in L.A., in ways that wouldn’t necessarily translate to other places, like D.C. (trade Hollywood for government). I was looking forward to reading it. Newspaper opinion pages have long been bludgeoned for being boring and predictable. And while much has been done recently to bring fresh writing and new voices into the mix, there is still a lot of competition out there for readers attention.
Bringing in a bright guest editor from another world seemed like a good way to get new audience into the paper. It’s the readers of the LA Times who suffer as a result.
