Realtor selling biz editor’s home advertises on biz section front

Jim Romenesko reports that Miami Herald business editor Jane Wooldridge‘s home is being sold by a Realtor who advertises on the front page of the paper’s business section.

The ad in Monday’s paper includes a photo of Wooldridge’s home.

Romenesko asked the paper for a response and received the following from managing editor Rick Hirsch:

Jane Wooldridge is our business editor. She and her husband, a Miami architect, are selling their home. Like most people who sell their homes, she hired a real estate agent.

Her real estate agent has an annual contract with the Miami Herald that includes a weekly ad on our Monday business magazine. This week, the agent included Jane’s home in that ad. The ad does not indicate who the home belongs to.

Jane played no role in placing the advertisement. She does not oversee our real estate reporter, who reports to a senior editor.

We see no conflict in a Herald employee patronizing an advertiser.

Read more here.