Does NPR's Code of Ethics Really Apply In This Situation?
We are not her employer, but she is a host for a show that we distribute. She’s a public person who represents NPR and public radio.
NPR spokeswoman Anna Christopher. Today, NPR dropped distribution of "World of Opera," a cultural program, because of Lisa Simeone’s involvement with Occupy D.C.
From the NPR Code of Ethics:
The code also applies to material provided to NPR by independent producers, member station contributors and/or reporters and freelance reporters, writers, news contributors or photographers. In cases where essayists or commentators make statements of fact those statements must meet this Code's requirements of accuracy. NPR expects its outside contributors to be free of conflicts of interest on content they submit, to be fair and accurate in creating that material, and to pursue coverage in a manner consistent with the ethical principles stated in this code. There will be instances where provisions of this code are not applicable to an outside contributor. For example, a freelancer who primarily does arts coverage, for example, may not in some situations be subject to the prohibition on making contributions to political campaigns. Such contributions, however, might limit the range of topics or individuals the outside contributor could cover. Supervisors will make these judgments on a case-by-case basis and, if necessary, in consultation with the appropriate programming Senior Vice President, Vice President or their designee. . .
VIII. Politics, community and outside activities
1. NPR journalists may not run for office, endorse candidates or otherwise engage in politics. Since contributions to candidates are part of the public record, NPR journalists may not contribute to political campaigns, as doing so would call into question a journalist's impartiality.
2. NPR journalists may not participate in marches and rallies involving causes or issues that NPR covers, nor should they sign petitions or otherwise lend their name to such causes, or contribute money to them.
3. NPR journalists may not serve on government boards or commissions.
4. NPR journalists may sit on community advisory boards, educational institution trustee boards, boards of religious organizations or boards of nonprofit organizations so long as NPR does not normally cover them and they are not engaged in significant lobbying or political activity. Such activities should be disclosed to the Senior Vice President for News or their designee, and NPR may revoke approval if it believes continued service will create and actual or appearance of a conflict of interest.
5. When a spouse, family member or companion of an NPR journalist is involved in political activity, the journalist should be sensitive to the fact that this could create real or apparent conflicts of interest. In such instances the NPR journalist should advise his or her supervisor to determine whether s/he should recuse him or herself from a certain story or certain coverage.
It should be noted that Lisa Simeone was not a journalist for NPR.
