In a major conflict of interest, the CNN news anchor advised his NY Governor brother and his staff on how to respond to sexual harassment allegations. Email not displaying correctly?
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** A really bad look for CNN and Chris Cuomo
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CNN’s Chris Cuomo. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

CNN’s messy situation just got a whole lot messier. And now one of CNN’s biggest stars is deservedly under scrutiny for crossing a journalistic line.

It’s a conflict of interest that has been more than a year in the making. It finally blew up in CNN’s face Thursday after revelations in a big scoop by The Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey and Sarah Ellison ([link removed]) : CNN primetime host Chris Cuomo advised his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and members of the governor’s staff on how to respond to sexual harassment allegations made against the governor by several women.

Dawsey and Ellison wrote, “The cable news anchor encouraged his brother to take a defiant position and not to resign from the governor’s office, the people said. At one point, he used the phrase ‘cancel culture’ as a reason to hold firm in the face of the allegations, two people present on one call said.”

Stop and think about what happened here.

The host of a primetime show on one of the country’s biggest and most influential cable news networks is advising one of the most powerful and influential politicians in this country on how to handle serious sexual misconduct allegations.

This is highly inappropriate for a journalist.

CNN isn’t denying any of this. In a statement, CNN said, “Chris has not been involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo — on air or behind the scenes. In part because, as he has said on his show, he could never be objective. But also because he often serves as a sounding board for his brother. However, it was inappropriate to engage in conversations that included members of the Governor’s staff, which Chris acknowledges. He will not participate in such conversations going forward.”

The Washington Post’s Erik Wemple wrote ([link removed]) , “The reason that Chris Cuomo ‘acknowledges’ that it was inappropriate to advise his brother in strategy sessions is because, well, he got caught violating one of journalism’s clearest ethical red lines. He gets no credit for acknowledging the transgression, and how are we to trust the pledge not to backslide?”

CNN added Cuomo will not be disciplined.

I don’t even know where to start on all the problems with this.

But here’s a good place: We’re talking about serious allegations of sexual harassment. How do staffers at CNN — especially women — feel about a powerful employee trying to help someone, even if it is his brother, diffuse and overcome allegations of disturbing sexual misbehavior? How do the women who made these allegations feel about a high-profile cable news network personality trying to help the man accused of such awful things? How about the citizens of New York?

Then there’s the journalism part of this.

It’s one thing to recuse yourself from coverage. It’s another to try to go behind the scenes and try to help shape what happens. Chris Cuomo is advising Gov. Cuomo on strategy, which you would assume includes how to deal with the media and change the media narrative. In other words, while Chris Cuomo’s colleagues and other media outlets are doggedly working on this story, Chris is advising his brother and his brother’s staff how to deal with the media and their reporting.

And, at the heart of all this, a journalist is helping a politician.

As Nicholas Lemann, a professor at Columbia Journalism School, told the Post, “If you are actively advising a politician in trouble while being an on-air host on a news network, that’s not okay.”

CNN’s Oliver Darcy wrote ([link removed]) , “The revelation that Cuomo had advised his brother vexed staffers inside CNN. Multiple CNN staffers said they were bothered by Cuomo's conduct and the violation of traditional journalistic standards.”

Chris Cuomo opened his “Cuomo Prime Time” show Thursday nigh ([link removed]) t by addressing the latest controversy. He said “of course I do” when commenting about giving his brother advice, adding “this is no revelation.”

He went on to say he can be objective about “just about any topic, but not about my family.” He said he is “fiercely loyal to his family.”

“But,” he said, “being a journalist and a brother to a politician is unique and a unique challenge and I have a unique responsibility to balance those roles. It’s not always easy.”

He said he understood why being looped into calls advising his brother was a problem for CNN, and said it will not happen again.

“It was a mistake,” Cuomo said, “because I put my colleagues here who I believe are the best in the business in a bad spot. I never intended for that. I would never intend for that. And I am sorry for that.”

Cuomo added that not only hasn’t he covered this story, but never tried to influence the network’s coverage of his brother.

“In fact,” he said, “I’ve been walled off from it.”

He said he knows where the line is

And yet he clearly crossed that line.

Look, I get it, Chris and Andrew are brothers. We can’t ask them to sever their relationship or for Chris to not give his love and support to his brother. But offering advice on this particular matter crosses a line that no journalist should cross. Being in meetings with the governor’s staff and other advisers is more than troublesome.

What happens if another high-profile politician or powerful person is accused of sexual harassment? Can we trust Chris Cuomo to cover that story objectively? Must he recuse himself from all sexual harassment stories?

As far as what should happen now? To me, something has to be pretty egregious to call for a firing, and I don’t know if what Chris Cuomo did rises quite to that level.

But CNN should’ve seen all this coming, and now it has to live with the consequences — which is some viewers not being able to trust a major personality on its network.

Last year, as COVID-19 dominated the news, Chris Cuomo would invite the governor of New York on his primetime show to talk about the pandemic. Under normal circumstances, that would make perfect news sense — a cable news network interviewing the governor of a state that was a COVID-19 hot spot.

But this was not a normal circumstance. This was a major conflict of interest.

As the two brothers often threw playful jabs at each other and joked around while occasionally getting serious about COVID-19, many media critics and viewers pointed out the potential pitfalls of one brother interviewing a brother regularly. Through it all, CNN seemed to shrug its shoulders as if it was no big deal.

But it became a big deal.

First, the governor came under criticism for how his state handled certain aspects of COVID-19, such as what was going on in New York’s nursing homes. Then Gov. Cuomo was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by several women. Only then did CNN truly address the conflict that was always there. In March, Chris said he would not talk about the allegations against his brother and that Andrew would no longer appear on Chris’ show.

By then, it was too late. The damage was done. Credibility for the network and, especially, Chris Cuomo took a hit. Gov. Cuomo was on Chris’ show when things were going well and the governor looked like a national star. But when Gov. Cuomo had to face difficult questions and controversies, Chris’ show put its head in the sand. (To be fair, the rest of the network did cover the story.)

Now we find out that while the two were no longer talking on the air about the governor’s problems, they were talking in high-level strategy meetings. It’s yet another reminder of why Andrew Cuomo appearing on Chris’ show last year was so problematic.

And why a messy situation got a whole lot messier.


** The UNC controversy rages on
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Nikole Hannah-Jones. (mpi43/MediaPunch /IPX)

This controversy involving the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media not giving tenure to Nikole Hannah-Jones ([link removed]) is getting worse and worse for the school.

The school’s dean and much of the faculty are outraged, pointing out that the last two people in the same position as Hannah-Jones were granted tenure upon their appointment. While some (read: conservatives) are pleased with UNC’s decision because they didn’t like Hannah-Jones’ “1619 Project” in The New York Times, many others are crushing UNC’s decision. That includes a lot of influential media people.

The point: A respected journalism school is taking a pounding by respected journalists. That’s never a good thing. And the whispers, which are hard to ignore, are that this has to do with race, not qualifications.

On Thursday, The Associated Press’ Tom Foreman Jr. reported ([link removed]) that the university didn’t offer tenure to Hannah-Jones because she didn’t come from a “traditional academic-type background.” According to university officials, Charles Duckett, the trustee who vets tenured positions, wanted more time to consider Hannah-Jones’ qualifications.

Richard Stevens, the chairman of the board of trustees, said, “We’re talking about a lifetime position here, so they’re not entered into lightly. And it’s not unusual for a member of the board, or in particular the chair of the committee, to have questions for clarification about background, particularly candidates that don’t come from a traditional academic-type background. In this case, Chair Duckett asked for a little bit of time to be able to do that.”

But, as mentioned above, the faculty already pushed back against those excuses.

What could happen next is backlash from alumni. It’s one thing to write angry letters and tweet disapprovals, but when alumni threaten to get involved while talking about donation money, that’s often when decisions can be changed. And, Foreman wrote, “The foundation that endows Hannah-Jones’ position, the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism, also urged the school to reconsider its decision.”

Something I mentioned previously that I keep coming back to: Hannah-Jones got a master's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism and Media. And this is how you treat one of your own?

On Thursday, Hannah-Jones tweeted ([link removed]) , “I have been overwhelmed by all the support you all have shown me. It has truly fortified my spirit and my resolve. You all know that I will (be) OK. But this fight is bigger than me, and I will try my best not to let you down.”
From our sponsor:
The Initiative in Reporting on Race and Criminal Justice at Columbia Lipman Center will provide grants from $30,000 to $45,000 and professional collaboration to four local news organizations for six-month reporting projects focusing on inequalities and abuses in the American criminal justice system. Apply now ([link removed]) through June 20.


** The latest with Tribune Publishing
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My colleague Rick Edmonds, Poynter’s media business analyst, has the latest on Alden Global Capital closing in on acquiring Tribune Publishing ([link removed]) .

Edmonds writes, “Friday is election day for Tribune Publishing shareholders. They will vote at a virtual meeting on whether to accept a bid from hedge fund Alden Global Capital to buy the company for $17.25 a share in a transaction valued at $630 million. There are no sure things in a hotly contested takeover like this one, but Alden, despite its reputation for milking papers for profit while slighting journalism and investments in the future, seems likely to prevail.”

Read Edmonds’ story for all the details.


** Controversy over Princess Diana interview all these years later
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Martin Bashir in 2013. (Photo by Nick Wass/Invision/AP, File)

In late 1995, journalist Martin Bashir conducted the most explosive interview that Princess Diana ever gave. In the shockingly candid interview on the BBC, Diana admitted that she had an affair; said “three of us” were in a marriage, a reference to Camilla Parker Bowles, now Duchess of Cornwall; and said she had bulimia and self-harmed, among other revelations. The interview was watched by more than 20 million people.

What was surprising was how Bashir, considered a junior reporter at the time, landed such an interview.

Well, on Thursday, the BBC announced Bashir acted in a “deceitful” way to secure the interview. Among the findings in the BBC report: Bashir made up fake bank statements to gain access to Diana. According to the BBC’s Francesca Gillett ([link removed]) , “Bashir said mocking up the documents ‘was a stupid thing to do’ and he regretted it, but said they had had no bearing on Diana's decision to be interviewed.”

The BBC also said an internal probe in 1996 to look into the interview was “woefully ineffective.”

The BBC and Bashir have sent written apologies to Diana’s sons — Prince Harry and Prince William — as well as Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, and Prince Charles.

Read Gillett’s story for more details.


** Workers at Mashable, PCMag and AskMen vote to authorize strike
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For this item, I turn it over to my Poynter colleague Angela Fu ([link removed]) .

97% of workers in the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, which represents editorial employees at Mashable, PCMag and AskMen, voted this week ([link removed]) to authorize a strike. This does not mean the workers are on strike. Instead, the vote gives the union's bargaining committee a mandate to call for a strike if they believe it necessary.

The union, which is part of the NewsGuild, has been locked in contract negotiations for more than two years. They allege that Ziff Davis management has been bargaining in bad faith and has put forth “unacceptable and inequitable wage proposals” that fail to address issues of underpayment and salary inequity.

The strike authorization vote follows a one-day walkout ([link removed]) in April. The union alleged at the time that Ziff Davis management was refusing to provide information and bargaining in bad faith. The union filed an unfair labor practice complaint ([link removed]) with the National Labor Relations Board but later withdrew it.

A spokesperson for Ziff Media Group wrote in an emailed statement that the company has responded to all of the union’s proposals and that it met with the union Thursday for a bargaining session as scheduled.

“We have consistently bargained in good faith and privately with the ZDCG to reach a contract that is fair and equitable with the business we have at ZMG, and today was no exception. Given how far we’ve come in negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, we’re very disappointed that they continually feel the need to bargain in public,” the spokesperson wrote. “We respect the process and look forward to finalizing an agreement in the near future.”


** Troubling developments from an execution
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Check out the headline on this story by The Washington Post’s Kim Bellware: “Texas fails to allow media to witness an execution for first time in 40 years, blaming miscommunication.” ([link removed])

In a statement, Jeremy Desel, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said, “As a result of a miscommunication between officials at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, there was never a call made to summon the media witnesses into the unit. We apologize for this critical error. The agency is investigating to determine exactly what occurred to ensure it does not happen again.”

Joseph Brown of The Huntsville (Texas) Item wrote ([link removed]) that Desel said, “We have a number of new personnel that are a part of the execution team who have not been a part of an execution in the past.”

Quintin Jones was the man executed. According to Brown’s story, “Prosecutors said Jones killed his great aunt, Berthena Bryant, in September 1999 after she refused to lend him money, beating her with a bat in her Fort Worth home then taking $30 from her purse to buy drugs.”

Also from Brown’s story: “In court documents, Jones’ attorney, Michael Mowla, argued Jones is intellectually disabled and that his death sentence is based on since-discredited testimony that wrongly labeled him as a psychopath and a future danger. Mowla also said Jones’ history of drug and alcohol abuse that started at age 12 and physical and sexual abuse he suffered were never considered at his trial.”

In a guest essay for The New York Times before the execution, Suleika Jaouad wrote, “Quintin Jones Is Not Innocent. But He Doesn’t Deserve to Die.” ([link removed])

The essay includes video work by Jaouad, Jonah M. Kessel and Lindsay Crouse


** Hot type
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* Watch this as soon as you can: For “CBS This Morning,” New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jodi Kantor talks to her 97-year-old grandmother, Hana Kantor ([link removed]) , about surviving the Holocaust and anti-Semitism today. Powerful storytelling. And here’s a clip ([link removed]) of “CBS This Morning” co-host Gayle King interviewing Jodi Kantor.
* The Washington Post’s Sarah Ellison with “Patrick Soon-Shiong is still trying to save the Los Angeles Times. Some hope he’ll do more than that.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times’ Declan Walsh with “Ethiopia Expels New York Times Reporter.” ([link removed])
* The Washington Post’s Jeremy Barr with “The Associated Press terminates new staffer amid uproar over tweets about Israel and Palestinians, sparking backlash.” ([link removed])
* Interesting stuff from Colorado Local News & Media writer Corey Hutchins with “A Colorado newspaper owner apologizes for ‘any of our sins’ as he loses a city printing gig.” ([link removed]')

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (“mailto:[email protected]”) .


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