The New York Times cancels Ben Stein’s column. Ben Stein fired? Bueller? Bueller? Read about it below and see photos and a video.
Ben Stein
It seems the New York Times has decided that Ben Stein’s commercial work is a conflict of interest with his job as a Sunday business columnist for the newspaper. Specifically, he recently signed as the pitchman for a ‘free’ credit score offer that doesn’t really give free credit scores. Well, they do, but you then have to pay $30 per month for the report behind the score. The New York Times saw this as a violation of their ethics guidelines and fired him.
Who knew the Old Grey Lady had ethics!?!?
They worded it nicely though.
Ben Stein’s fine work for us as a columnist for Sunday Business had to end, we told him, after we learned that he had become a commercial spokesman for FreeScore, a financial services company. Ben didn’t understand when he signed on with FreeScore that this might pose a potential conflict for him as a contributing columnist for the Times, because he hadn’t written about credit scores or this company. But, we decided that being a commercial spokesman for FreeScore while writing his column wouldn’t be appropriate.
We are sorry to lose him as a columnist, and appreciate his work for the Times over the years.
One has to wonder what the back story of that is. Regardless, Stein has had a diverse career including being an actor, comedian, political pundit, economist, lawyer, and I’m sure I’m leaving something out. He produced a documentary that explores teaching intelligent-design in schools, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.
As per reports, even though the New York Times cancels Ben Stein’s column, he will continue to work as a television pundit for Fox News, CBS Sunday Morning and CNBC. He’ll continue he column on Yahoo! Finance and at the American Spectator.
Ben Stein - Photos
Ben Stein fired - Video
Stein with Glenn Beck, Where There’s Smoke There’s Fired
Photos: www.wenn.com
Carrie Devorah / WENN
Nikki Nelson / WENN
August 10th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
>> Who knew the Old Grey Lady had ethics!?!?
Gratuitous slurs are ethical?
Anyone who actually reads the Times daily knows it takes ethics seriously, so I imagine you aren’t a subscriber.
August 10th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
New York Times? Ethics? Yeah right, I guess they can be called ethics, they’re just very low and questionable ethics. But, they are ethics.
August 10th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Jay Martin - they gave away troop movements at the beginning of the Iraq war. That’s not ethical.
I think it’s funny how the dems are so big on accusing Americans of the tactics they are so adept at using. How on EARTH can you accuse me of ‘gratuitous slurs’ when this President does it himself just today - slurring the American people in front of the leaders of Mexico and Canada for all the world to hear.
August 10th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
isn’t it a bit of a stretch identifying swine as an “actor”.