Categories: OLD Media Moves

Editors stand behind Bartiromo

The New York Post’s Keith Kelly writes Friday that the editors of Reader’s Digest and BusinessWeek will continue to publish freelance columns from CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo despite the recent controversy surrounding her trip on a Citigroup jet.

Kelly wrote, “Bartiromo was to have been a guest of Reader’s Digest Association at the Magazine Publishers of America’s recent Henry Johnson Fisher Award luncheon. Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Leo didn’t take it as a ‘diss’ that Bartiromo was a no-show. She was in the midst of the maelstrom.

“‘She’s one of the most ethical reporters I have ever met,’ said Leo, who hails from the same Brooklyn neighborhood as the CNBC squawker. ‘She will skewer or laud, depending on where the chips fall.’

“She said Bartiromo is paid the ‘standard columnist rate’ for her 1,000-word personal finance article – which probably means it is a mid-five figure amount on an annual basis.

“‘She does podcasts when we ask her to and speaks with our editors at luncheons from time to time. . . . She is just aces.’

“Business Week Editor-in-Chief Steve Adler is a little less gushing – but is still sticking with her as one of his star columnists, which also includes Jack and Suzie Welch.

“‘We’re confident that she’s been complying with our journalistic code of ethics,’ said Adler. ‘We think it’s a useful column for our readers and we’re continuing with it.'”