Bartiromo interview with Weill raises questions

The TVNewser web site noted that CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo’s interview this afternoon with former Citigroup CEO Sandy Weill could raise questions again with viewers about her ethics.

Bartiromo, if you remember, was criticized earlier this year for her relationship with ousted Citigroup executive Todd Thomson, which included taking a plane ride on the Citigroup corporate jet back from China. Bartiromo also raised eyebrows earlier in her career during a Weill interview when she disclosed that she owned stock on the company.

TVNewser wrote, “A longtime CNBC viewer wrote to TVNewser: ‘Have they lost all ethical thought and reason in Englewood Cliffs? I sat there with a stunned look on my face the whole time the interview was going on.’

“‘Why shouldn’t she do the interview? She did nothing wrong,’ a CNBC insider responded…

> “Update: 9:35pm: ‘Just the hint of scandal makes the interview stupid from a P.R. point of view. Why risk credibility with viewers by giving the interview to Bartiromo?,’ an e-mailer adds.”

Read more here.

Also, the Inside Cable News blog muses: “Some people are going to point to the recent Citigroup scandal involving Bartiromo and wonder why on earth she’s anywhere near this interview. Others will point out that the interview wasn’t with anyone who currently works at CNBC as Weill is no longer Chairman and CEO and therefore there’s nothing wrong with it.”