A list of journalists who gave campaign cash

In July MSNBC compiled a list of journalists who donated to various political campaigns from 2004 through the first quarter of 2007. Overall, 147 reporters, editors, producers, critics and a plethora of others appeared on the list, contributing over $300,000.

Some have legitimate arguments that their contributions are justifiable. Food critics, health reporters, technology correspondents, travel columnists and other non-politics, non-news positions, do not seem as ominous when making appearances on political contribution lists.

But others are in blatant violation of journalisms code of objectivity, and they know it. When the Muskegon Chronicle's Terry Judd was confronted with questions regarding $1,900 given to the Democratic National Committee, between 2004 through 2006, and $2,000 given to John Kerry in March 2004, both under his name, he was blunt:

"You caught me," Judd said. "I guess I was just doing it on the side." Judd was a reporter and chief of the newspaper's Grand Haven bureau.

But what immediately jumps off the page is the fact that nearly 90 percent of contributors gave to candidates, organizations, or causes that favored Democratic canidates. Of the 147 listed, 132 contributed to Democrats, 13 contributed to Republicans and 2 contributed to both Democratic and Republican causes and candidates.

Although, many of those who contribute did not cover politics directly, it does give fodder to those who claim the media is a mouth piece of the left. Also of note, not one of the media members listed contributed to Independent canidates. Could this give insight into why smaller and independent canidates are often excluded from debates and find it very difficult to get any sort of press coverage?

Although, vastly outnumbered by journalists giving to Democrats, Republican media members gave more per capita. The average given to Republican canidates and causes was $7,850, while that number is $1,430.72 on the Democratic side.

Here is a breakdown of major broadcast and print organizations. Go here for the complete findings of the investigation.

On the broadcast side:

ABC: 3 contributors; $7,350
CBS: 5 contributors; $7,000
CNN: 1 contributor; $500
Fox News/affiliates: 4 contributors; $8,850
MSNBC: 1 contributor; $4,200

On the print side:

The Wall Street Journal: 3 contributors; $2,300
The New York Times: 3 contributors; $9,185
Los Angeles Times: 4 contributors; $5,250
New York Daily News: 2 contributors; $2,404
The Washington Post: 1 contribution; $250
The Chicago Trbune: 2 contributors; $2,200