NYT real estate reporter banned from real estate gala

Dana Rubinstein of the New York Observer reports that New York Times real estate reporter Christine Haughney has been denied a ticket to the black tie ball held by the Real Estate Board of New York — an event that she reported on last year.

Rubenstein writes, “When Ms. Haughney requested a complimentary invitation for this year’s Jan. 21 gala from the group’s PR folks at the Marino Organization, she was, at the behest of the Board, rejected.

“Though multiple sources blame last year’s coverage for the blackball, REBNY claims that Ms. Haughney couldn’t attend because she’s not a real real estate reporter.

“‘As one of the most sought-after tickets, there are always more requests than can be accommodated,’ said Frank Marino, a REBNY spokesman, in a statement. ‘We therefore limit complimentary tickets to those members of the media who are assigned to the real estate beat.’

“Yet it’s not as though Ms. Haughney covers fashion or something! Indeed, a bio on the Times Web site describes her beat thusly: ‘Christine Haughney covers the newly created frontiers beat for metro which explores neighborhoods throughout the city affected by the building boom over the past few years and the latest slowdown.  She has covered the real estate beat for more than five years. She joined The New York Times in 2006 to report for the real estate desk and has been covering the Frontiers beat since November 2008.'”

Read more here.