In the latest in a series of editorials supporting the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s battles to overturn two ordinances intended to protect working people, the Press-Telegram today celebrates the City Council’s decision to repeal them. Nothing surprising there–the Press-Telegram editorials almost always support the positions of the Chamber.

What is surprising–at least, it was to us, when we checked the web sites of the Press-Telegram and the Chamber of Commerce–is a piece of information that might explain why: Press-Telegram publisher Dave Kuta not only sits on the paper’s five-member Editorial Board, but also on the Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.

“Yes, I guess he is on that Chamber board,” acknowledged Larry Allison, who heads the P-T editorial department. “But our publisher has nothing to do with the [Chamber's] Political Action Committee. I don’t know what else to say about that.”

The answer would seem to be: Something!

Whatever rationale the Press-Telegram uses to allow Kuta’s input into editorials supporting an organization he helps direct — and which, in turn, is greatly influencing the direction of the city — the most basic of journalistic ethics requires that Kuta’s relationship with the Chamber be mentioned every time the Chamber is. Anything else is corrupt.

By the way, I was employed by the Press-Telegram for 23 years. I’m just sayin’.

More to come…

Tags: Dave Kuta, Editorial Board, journalism ethics, Larry Allison, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, lowdown sneaks, press telegram