Barbara Reed

Fourth in a five-part series on the revolving door between journalism and government in New Jersey. Yesterday, Debbie Holtz asked if reporters protect their former sources when they move from journalism to working for politicians.

Gov. Jon Corzine's new Communications Director is a Star-Ledger reporter who has covered him for the last three years These days, it seems like a week does not pass by without news of red ink running through daily newspapers. Is the troubled financial condition of the newspaper industry driving more and more reporters to PR jobs?

“Anyone who reads the business section of the newspaper knows the current climate,” explained Dr. Barbara Reed, a professor of Journalism at Rutgers University. “Everyone in journalism is aware of the current climate and we are all very worried.

“Whether it is the New York Times, the LA Times, the Chicago Tribune or the Miami Herald – and these are among the best 10 papers in America - they are all experiencing hard times. It’s a very hard place to be in because the advertising is drying up.”

Back in and around New Jersey, the picture isn’t any rosier.

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Third in a five-part series on the revolving door between journalism and government in New Jersey. Yesterday, Debbie Holtz wrote about the century-old practice of reporters who move to government.

Gov. Jon Corzine's new Communications Director is a Star-Ledger reporter who has covered him for the last three yearsImagine sharing a confidence with a journalist during an "off the record" conversation that becomes part of a media story. Now think about how you'd feel when that reporter resigns and joins the staff of your political adversary.

The first question that pops into your head is: Will my promise of confidentiality still be honored by the reporter in his or her new position?

The jailing of former New York Times reporter Judith Miller and freelance blogger Josh Wolf raised questions about the need for a federal shield law in order to protect the confidentiality of journalist-source relationships from government-seeking subpoenas.

The debate was silent on the question of whether sources are protected from inquisitive government or political employers once a reporter leaves the news organization.

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Second in a five-part series on the revolving door between journalism and government in New Jersey. Yesterday, Debbie Holtz wrote about post-employment ethics for the journalist-turned-spokeswoman.

Gov. Jon Corzine's new Communications Director is a Star-Ledger reporter who has covered him for the last three yearsIt’s described as a “century-old” practice. The list of reporters who moved from the Fourth Estate to government /political spokesperson positions is long and impressive.

It includes Pierre Salinger -- who went from reporter to White House press secretary and back again to chief European correspondent for ABC News. Add Bill Moyers to the list -- his tour of duty began at a local radio station in Texas, made a few stops at posts in the Johnson Administration, only later to return to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). And let’s not forget Jerald terHorst -- President Gerald Ford tapped the former Detroit News Washington Bureau Chief as his press secretary in an effort to return some integrity to the Office of the President after Richard Nixon’s resignation.

The list also includes some lesser known names, and the dividing line between actual and perceived conflicts of interests seems a bit more blurred.

The reality is people change jobs all the time, and for a variety of reasons. Reporters are no different than the rest of the working population. No one's going to get rich from a job in journalism, and particularly at newspapers. The leap from the news room to "the front office" can mean a mean a sizable bump in salary. The average salary for reporters is $42K according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while communications positions in NJ government and politics are typically in the six figure range.

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