I’m a big believer in journalistic ethics. Reporters shouldn’t break the law. They shouldn’t steal other people’s work or claim work that isn’t theirs. And so on. They’re principles more than rules and that’s important to note because principles, like rubber, bend, but rules break. I’m not altogether sure that this reporter is guilty of any ethical violation.
Here are the facts:
- Ramiro Burr was a music writer for the San Antonio Express-News
- His work has also appeared in the Houston Chronicle
- Burr published work in both papers that was written by someone else
- The other writer did not get credit or a byline for his work
- Allegations of wrongdoing were brought against Burr by an attorney of the other writer, a man named Douglas Shannon
- Shannon admits that he was a ghostwriter hired by Burr
- Burr’s contract with the Houston Chronicle gave him the liberty to hire employees since his status was that of an independent contractor and not a Chronicle employee
In light of these facts, I don’t understand why Burr apologized for wrongdoing. It doesn’t appear that he did anything unethical. If his contract allowed him to hire employees and he was writing as an independent contractor then having a research assistant who writes stories on your behalf is perfectly acceptable. It’s called “work for hire.” You do not owe the ghostwriter anything other than the fee that he agreed to accept for the work he was doing for you.
Since Shannon openly admitted that he was a ghostwriter and Burr’s contract with the Houston Chronicle allowed him to hire employees, this appears to be a case where Burr was in perfectly legal and ethical territory. Unless there is something else to this story or I’m missing a few facts, it doesn’t appear to be an ethics violation at all.
I guess the sticking point here then is whether the San Antonio Express-News sees its contract with Burr the same way that Houston Chronicle sees it. From the smell of things, it doesn’t, and maybe the Express-News frowns upon its writers hiring employees. If that is the case then I’d say that Burr is probably guilty of violating company policy, but not anything in the way of journalistic ethics. Again, unless I’m missing some facts.
