PGN publisher, co-author of Clinton interview gave her campaign $1,000
April 6th, 2008
The Philadelphia Gay News has gotten a lot of attention for its recent interview with Hillary Clinton, as well as the blank space on the front page where Obama would have appeared had he responded to the newspaper’s requests. But I think it’s worth noting that the publisher of the newspaper and one of the authors of the Clinton interview, Mark Segal, contributed $1,000 to Hillary’s campaign in 2007. There’s long been debate in journalism circles as to whether it’s appropriate to make financial contributions to candidates or even participate in the political process at all beyond casting a ballot in the privacy of a voting booth. However, I think most would agree that when you do, you should make a full disclosure as part of any coverage in which you’re involved. Segal apparently failed to make such a disclosure, and as a result he’s getting slammed. To view the newspaper’s front page, go here.
UPDATE: In an interview with The Daily Examiner, Segal insists The Philadelphia Gay News isn’t behind Clint0n: “I’m personally on the fence,” he says. “The space was left open to show that we are willing to feature him equally. We will put his answers to the same exact questions. It’s in his ballpark. He’s the one who doesn’t want to play fair.”
The Examiner didn’t ask about the $1,000 contribution. To read some analysis of the Clinton interview from Chris Crain, go here. To view Queerty’s post on Segal, which includes plenty of interesting comments, go here.
April 6th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Can we say, conflict of interest? I knew you could.
April 6th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I am not the slightest bit surprised at this news. It is clear that at least one of the writers in the PGN who wrote this were pro-Hillary (or that they were ordered to write with that slant). I wish other gay publications across the country (who fawn over all things Hillary) would come clean as well.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:37 am
they might have contributed to Obama’s campaign, had he cooperated with the gays.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I hope that the Dallas Voice writes about this in its upcoming issue — a publisher of a gay paper writing articles that so blatantly favor a candidate (and that coincidentally, he provided financial support to that candidate). I know that the Shrillary lovers won’t be happy that she is not getting more fawning press, but we need to hear both sides.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 am
Yep, if Obama had cooperated with the gay community the might have conmtributed to him.