Audio: Gov. Jim Gibbons speaks with Reno reporter Ray Hagar on the Wall Street Journal conspiracy theory

Journalists should:
?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity. - Society of Professional Journalists: Code of Ethics

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons told a Reno journalist last week that he had heard a rumor that state Democrats had paid a Wall Street Journal reporter to investigate his ties to a lucrative federal defense contract won by a Reno defense contractor. The notion of "political conspiracy theories" by the Governor fueled more negative press coverage and further dropped his approval rating to less than 30 percent. Many state media appropriately questioned how the Governor could float the idea that the nation's second largest newspaper would accept pay to write a story.

Now we know Gibbons doesn't like the press and that he blames Nevada media outlets for his problems, but we didn't know he could possibly think Democrats are so organized in their push for the White House in 2008 that they would try to take out someone as inconsequential as Gibbons. The basic premise that hurting Gibbons would help Democrats in 2008 is as ludicrous as thinking The Wall Street Journal, the second-largest newspaper in the country, could be bribed so easily to undermine the core principles of its editorial pages. - Erin Neff, Las Vegas Review-Journal

For some background, The Wall Street Journal reported on February 15, 2007 that:

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons accepted unreported gifts or payments from a company that was awarded secret military contracts when Mr. Gibbons served in Congress. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining whether any gifts or payments violated federal contracting rules or were offered in exchange for official acts by Mr. Gibbons, people briefed on the investigation said. Mr. Gibbons, a Republican, represented Nevada for five terms in Congress, where he served on the House Intelligence and Armed Services committees, and was sworn in as governor last month.

Which led the Governor to announce that Wall Street Journal reporter John R. Wilke was paid to write the story and that "there is nothing there with any of these allegations."

The interesting revelation came when the Governor announced that he believes it is appropriate to float his own counter rumors in response to rumors floating around about him.

"Is there a double standard?" Gibbons said. "I don't think there should be a double standard. ... Let me say that I'm one who has been subjected to a lot of false rumors that have been published by people -- statements created and fabricated against me. ... So I don't think there should be a double standard."

The governor?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s press secretary went on to further the conspiracy theory:

?¢‚Ǩ?ìWe believe that there is a significant effort on behalf of the Democratic Party to aggressively attack my boss?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ legislative agenda and provide further distraction, not allowing us to move forward leading the state,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù Melissa Subbotin said. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìAs far as the Wall Street Journal story goes, we don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know. We don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know who is providing it but we do hear rumors just like you do.

Politics is about subterfuge and misdirection and politicians have been accused of being liars so many times that this must be the accepted approach: to float conspiracy theories and attempt to misdirect the electorate. The American public relations profession grew up alongside American politics, and suffers from the stigmas of spin and lies. Meanwhile, many people have worked hard to develop ethical standards and philosophies of public relations. My favorite credo was written by Arthur Page:

• Tell the Truth. Let the public know what's happening and provide an accurate picture of the company's character, ideals and practices.
• Prove it with action. Public perception of an organization is determined 90 percent by what it does and ten percent by what it says.
• Listen to the customer. To serve the company well, understand what the public wants and needs. Keep top decision makers and other employees informed about public reaction to company products, policies and practices.
• Manage for tomorrow. Anticipate public reaction and eliminate practices that create difficulties. Generate goodwill.
• Realize a company's true character is expressed by its people. The strongest opinions - good or bad - about a company are shaped by the words and deeds of its employees. As a result, every employee - active or retired - is involved with public relations. It is the responsibility of corporate communications to support each employee's capability and desire to be an honest, knowledgeable ambassador to customers, friends, shareowners and public officials.
• Conduct public relations as if the whole company depends on it. Corporate relations is a management function. No corporate strategy should be implemented without considering its impact on the public. The public relations professional is a policymaker capable of handling a wide range of corporate communications activities.
• Remain calm, patient and good-humored. Lay the groundwork for public relations miracles with consistent and reasoned attention to information and contacts. When a crisis arises, remember that cool heads communicate best.

I would like to add my own philosophy to Page's:

Don't lie. Don't make stuff up. Strive to be honest, transparent and communicate with candor. When you're caught in a mistake, admit it immediately. Make amends. Be the kind of person your mother taught you to be. Do your best. Eventually people will see your good deeds and you'll be rewarded.

Finally, I know that repeating a conspiracy theory is dangerous business. If you think the world is out to get you, or if you see conspiracies around every corner, keep that stuff to yourself. It just makes my job harder and I'm not sure I can hide you from the truth.