Remember The Times

The New York Times' discounting of the ad by MoveOn was clearly an egregious communications mistake. A newspaper paragon like the Times should have been able to discern the PR impact that indirect advocacy for a group like MoveOn could possibly have. Now conservative and moderate readers of the Times will judge its articles with much more bias and they will become a target for right-wing institution-bashing. The New York Times should not have tried to cover up its endorsement of MoveOn by citing a salesman error, they simply should have restated their condition as a newspaper whose attention is to providing the facts and allowance of free speech. Then they could charge for the difference as usual. Now their reputation is tarnished because of their inability to take responsibility for their actions.