George Stephanopoulos’ Clinton donations mark the latest of a series of journalism mishaps since the start of the year. Along with NBC ‘s Brian Williams and Fox News ‘ Bill O’Reilly, Stephanopoulos’ Clinton donations represent a mishap of the fourth estate that has called its credibility into question.
George Stephanopoulos’ donations to the Clinton Foundation barely came as a shock to many when the news broke however, it was quite troubling that Stephanopoulos neglected to disclose that he had donated $75,000 to the Clinton Foundations to his employer and his viewers.
“I made charitable donations to the foundation in support of the work they’re doing on global AIDS prevention and deforestation, causes I care about deeply. I thought that my contributions were a matter of public record. However, in hindsight, I should have taken the extra step of personally disclosing my donations to my employer and to the viewers on air during the recent news stories about the foundation. I apologize.”
George Stephanopoulos’ Clinton donations have breeched the ethics of fair and balanced journalism, and now Stephanopoulos could pay the ultimate. The 54-year-old has already been heavily criticized by conservatives and as a result, Stephanopoulos has withdrawn from moderating the Republican debates. For now, ABC has chosen to stand beside their political analyst of almost 20 years.
“As George has said, he made charitable donations to the Foundation to support a cause he cares about deeply and believed his contributions were a matter of public record,” the network’s statement read. “He should have taken the extra step to notify us and our viewers during the recent news reports about the Foundation. He’s admitted to an honest mistake and apologized for that omission. We stand behind him.”
Stephanopoulos made his name as an advisor to President Bill Clinton before making the switch over to television. Unfortunately, George Stephanopoulos’ Clinton donations have once again shown how easy it is for Washington to hold control over the facets of the media. Can Stephanopoulos be taken seriously as a balanced journalist?
It is one thing to be a journalist that willingly and unmistakably make their allegiance known as a supporter of one ideology or another. But, George Stephanopoulos is usually touted as a supposed neutral, even after his time advising Bill Clinton.
For the now veteran journalist, his rookie mistake has severely dented his credibility – luckily for him not to the level of Brian Williams – George Stephanopoulos’ Clinton donations will definitely not be the last scandal of the 2016 Presidential campaign but it could be the most telling of the current state of the fourth estate.
(Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
