Apr 7, 2005
All the News that Fits
Ralph E. Luker reports a major embarrassment (or, at least, what should be a major embarrassment) for The New York Times and Columbia University:
"The Times admits and Columbia confirms that the University gave the newspaper a privileged one day advance release of its report on its Middle Eastern studies program in return for a commitment by the Times reporter not to ask critics of the program for their reaction. Great Institutions may expect one hand washing the other treatment from Great Institutions, but they do so to their mutual embarrassment."Much as I would like to single out The Times, it is not the only newspaper which has a much too cozy relationship with large and powerful institutions of higher learning. In Tuscaloosa, for example, The Tuscaloosa News is the major de facto public relations arm of the University of Alabama. By contrast, it does not hesitate to run negative stories on smaller, less politically and financially powerful, institutions in the area such as Stillman College of Tuscaloosa.