NLGJA members feel the heat

By Hywel Tuscano
NLGJA Reporter Staff

A panel tackling tough ethical questions Friday ended on a poignant note as delegates reaffirmed their right to be out at work and cover gay issues.

The “NLGJA Members in the Hot Seat” panel returned this year as a popular centerpiece to the conference. Thirty delegates took part in six panels moderated by Harry Smith, an anchor on CBS News’ “The Early Show.”

Smith launched into difficult ethical scenarios ranging from conflict of interest when covering LGBT issues to reporting after the fact on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to Michael Jackson.

Every time the mic was passed, Smith would complicate the issue and compound the problems to prevent repetitive agreement between panelists.

A difficult scenario involved Jayson Blair and Jack Kelley’s deceptions and the shockwaves that questioned editorial responsibility.

“I have to push myself as an editor to ask those questions of the reporter,” said Fred Kuhr of the Boston-based In Newsweekly. “I have to trust what the reporter is doing, but at the same time the reporter has to trust me.”

Smith humorously noted at the end that panelists spoke for themselves, not their news organizations.