Des Moines' ethically challenged endorsements

Sharply criticized for its top editor's handling of two presidential debates last week, the Des Moines Register today endorsed Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain for next month's Iowa caucuses.

Like virtually all papers, the Register's endorsements on this morning's editorial page are not signed. But a Register story reveals that Editor Carolyn Washburn (below, left) was among the six editorial board members who made the choices.

There was a time in American journalism when top editors generally didn't direct overall news coverage while also setting corporate opinion on editorial pages. That separation was meant to assure readers that opinion didn't drive news coverage. But I doubt this separation exists at many Gannett papers. There are too few qualified people to choose for board positions, so publishers often pick their top editor. Plus, many publishers think their own participation is a waste of time; they'd rather delegate that important job.

Here's why that's a mistake. In the Register's case, the paper was hammered for excluding Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio (left) from the Democratic debate it sponsored Thursday. Now, Kucinich's supporters may point to today's Clinton endorsement as proof the fix was in from the start. In any case, the Register's editorials are now replete with reader comments. Here's one I noticed right away on the Clinton endorsement: "The Register’s support of candidates is based on who can be bought by Gannett. The editorial board is not independent it is a puppet for a corporation that continues to support America as an oligarchy."

Perhaps anticipating criticism, the Register does something unusual and smart: It uses video to explain its decision, adding to the paper's already heavy use of video in this year's presidential campaign coverage. Editorial page editor Carol Hunter explains the board's decision to endorse Clinton here, and its McCain choice here.

But these videos would carry a lot more gravitas if they weren't preceded by what looks like paid advertising. (I was shown commercials for an American Medical Association trade group health care advocacy website.) Advertising is a needless distraction.

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[Images: today's Register front page, Newseum; Washburn, Gannett]