Jon Stewart’s “Rally to Restore Sanity” and Stephen Colbert’s “March to Keep Fear Alive” are poised to make a big splash in Washington DC Saturday 10/30/10. But journalists working for National Public Radio have been cautioned to keep their distance.
NPR does not allow its journalists to participate in marches or rallies, run for office, endorse candidates, join online social community clubs centered on a candidate, or make contributions to a political campaign.
According to a report in Salon, NPR apparently views the events being staged by Comedy Central’s late night stalwarts Stewart and Colbert as a political event. According to Salon, NPR execs have warned their news staff away from the event, and even suggested that other employees stay away as well.
According to Salon, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller sent a memo to all employees reminding them that they represent NPR regardless of their work function and have a responsibility to avoid tarnish the objectivity of its news service.
