Dual Roles For Media Executives Raise Ethics Concerns

Honoree/Univision Networks President Cesar Conde attends the 2010 "I Have a Dream" Foundation Spring Gala at 583 Park Avenue in New York City on June 3, 2010. (Mark Von Holden/Getty Images for I Have a Dream Foundation)

In his role as chairman of the NBC News Group, Cesar Conde juggles a multitude of responsibilities, overseeing various media outlets including CNBC, MSNBC, Telemundo, and NBC-owned local affiliates. However, beyond his duties in the news sphere, Mr.  Conde holds additional paid positions, serving on the corporate boards of Walmart and PepsiCo. This arrangement has sparked ethical debates, shedding light on potential conflicts of interest within the news industry, an arena typically vigilant about such matters.

Mark Thompson, CNN’s new chief executive, similarly sits as chairman of Ancestry.com’s board. Ancestry.com is the largest for-profit genealogy company in the world. He also serves as Deputy Chair of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Mr Thompson, a British media executive who formerly served as president of The New York Times. Mr. Thompson has recused himself from any news surrounding geneology companies, including Ancestry.com.

“A conflict of interest occurs when a board member has multiple interests which may influence the way in which they act or vote on  a board,' as outlined by Leading Governance. The United Kingdom passed The Companies Act in 2006, stating board directors have a duty to avoid conflicts of interest.

Meanwhile, the dual role of Jeff Bezos as executive chairman of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post has drawn scrutiny, particularly from former President Donald Trump.

“The Washington Post is nothing more than an expensive ... lobbyist for Amazon,” Mr. Trump wrote in a 2018 post online. In 2013, Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, purchased The Washington Post for $250 million. The Post was struggling financially and facing declining readership. However, Mr. Bezos’s acquisition raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The Post covers Amazon and other businesses Mr. Bezos has a stake in. The paper has tried to address these concerns, disclosing Mr. Bezos’s ownership and having policies in place for recusal on stories related to Amazon.

Mr. Conde’s involvement with Walmart and PepsiCo predates his tenure as NBC News Group’s chairman, with reported earnings from these roles in 2022. While NBC declined to comment on the issue, Mr. Conde’s apparent recusal from reporting on the two corporations, as stated in a 2021 Wall Street Journal article, aims to mitigate potential conflicts of interest.

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Recusal is a procedural step, but it may not address all potential issues. Experts like Jane Kirtley, professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, and Kelly McBride, senior vice president and ethics expert at the Poynter Institute, suggest transparency and a commitment to unbiased reporting are crucial in such scenarios. Ms. Kirtley emphasized her position as reported by ABC News, stating, “In an ideal world, I think news executives should avoid situations like this.”

The evolving landscape of journalism leadership increasingly includes individuals like Mr. Conde and Mr. Thompson, whose backgrounds differ from traditional newsroom trajectories. While their experiences bring diversity, questions about conflicts of interest persist. News organizations such as ABC and CBS lack clear policies on executives serving on external corporate boards, leaving room for ambiguity. However, The New York Times code of conduct states, “Any work with an entity or person with which The Times does business, as well as any work for a company that competes with The Times or has the potential to be competitive with The Times, could create a conflict of interest and must be approved by the company in advance.” Similarly, The Wall Street Journal’s code of conduct states employees “may not serve as directors, officers, advisors, investors, consultants, or partners of any other company or venture devoted to profit-making.”

News organizations face challenges in balancing the benefits of diverse leadership experience with the potential for conflicts of interest, but disclosure of potential conflicts, such as The Washington Post’s acknowledgment of its ties to Amazon, contributes to maintaining public confidence in the fairness and objectivity of journalism.

The Epoch Times contacted Jeff Bezos and NBC for comment but a statement was not returned by the time of publication. Mr. Thompson could not be reached for comment.