Was it fair to turn New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine into a street peddler in print? (http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003677872) The Asbury Park Press illustrated a story about the state’s toll roads with a picture of Corzine symbolically “hocking” (selling) cars and highways as he held open a tweed coat. (http://www.newseum.org/media/dfp/pdf25/NJ_APP.pdf) The illustration’s edginess seemed better suited for an alternative weekly, but I was bothered more by how it was presented. The image was peculiar enough that someone might have known it was a computer-created compilation, but I think the disclaimer – “Photo illustration” – should have been much more prominent. The doctored image was dominant above the fold; the disclaimer was in small type below the fold. Clarity should have trumped page design.

The writers who both cover Major League Baseball and decide its individual awards say they won’t honor players whose contracts have bonus clauses tied to those honors. (http://www.examiner.com/a-1088342~Baseball_writers_vote_to_get_out_of_the_bonus_business.html) The writers don’t want to appear beholden. But isn’t there already a potential for bias among writers chummy with (or annoyed at) certain players? Why don’t the writers see the bigger picture? Reporters should cover the news, not create it. Some major newspapers already understand this and prohibit their reporters from voting.