opinion

EDITORIAL: Radio host tone deaf on ethics

Ethics policies that prohibit reporters and editors from accepting gifts, favors or special treatment in the course of doing their jobs are fundamental to responsible, objective journalism. Apparently New Jersey 101.5 radio and the host of its monthly "Ask the Governor" show, Eric Scott, have no such policy. Either that or no ethics.

During a recent segment, Scott, the station's news director, casually mentioned to Gov. Chris Christie that he didn't get paid a lot of money for interviewing him. So Christie, presumably tongue in cheek, urged one of the show's sponsors, auto dealer Lester Glenn, to give Scott a free car.

"Maybe you can get something from the Lester Glenn Auto Group," Christie said. "How about a new car from the Lester Glenn Auto Group for Eric Scott? ... Can we do that? Are the Lester Glenn Auto people listening?"

The dealership's president, Adam Kraushaar, apparently was listening. The station later posted a video on its website of Kraushaar delivering a blue Corvette to Scott, and Scott driving away in it. The company vice president of operations, John Perillo, later said the car was just a loaner for the month.

Scott thanked the dealership for the "sweetest ride of my life" on Twitter, and the company responded, "You're right! Blue is definitely your color :) We hope you're enjoying the Corvette!"

This isn't one of those situations that will end up being debated by academics on some forum on journalistic ethics. There would be no disagreement about whether it crossed the line. Scott and his station not only crossed it, but unabashedly splashed it all over social media.

What made the whole episode even more noxious is the fact Scott is the only New Jersey newsperson who has been granted access to Christie since the George Washington Bridge scandal broke last year. Christie has avoided the press like the plague. He hasn't held a press conference in at least five months. It has been years since he met with a New Jersey newspaper editorial board. And there have been no opportunities for reporters to ask Christie tough questions about his own ethical lapses and his sub-par performance as governor.

Scott and his soft-lob questions — no one will ever confuse his interviewing style with Mike Wallace's — and the format of his call-in show are perfect for Christie, whose entire communications operation these days is focused on one thing: trying to make him look good nationally. Avoiding tough questions from reporters is central to that strategy.

Back to Scott: How clueless could he be not to see the ethical issue involved in accepting a loan of a Corvette, arranged by the governor of the state, and provided by an advertiser?

"What we need is a little love for Eric Scott," Christie said in making his pitch for a car for Scott.

No, what Eric Scott and his radio station need is an ethics policy. Or better yet, some ethics.