Many many years ago, before cable probably, there existed a rule in the journalism business: Impartiality is essential for credibility. It simply meant, you don't promote or publicly support the people or institutions that you may eventually have to cover.
For example, you don't say the mayor is the best ever in case the next day you have to call him an accused felon. Or something nasty like that.
Why, kids, I even remember a time when those of us in radio weren't even allowed to read commercial sponsorships at the beginning of newscasts. None of that, "And now the news,brought to you by Dumb and Dumber Chair Company."
Nowadays, though, there's a thing called "spin."
Having the ability to spin is almost as good as having "credibility." It means you can tell people you "didn't know" that something you did was unethical or that you are a moron. In many circles, that erases your misbehavior and everyone forgets about it forever. Simply put, you are no longer a moron.
So every so-called "journalist" who was edited out of the recent non-advertisement/tribute to outgoing Mayor Daley is now forgiven. They are no longer morons.
The ones who didn't avail themselves of the opportunity to spin their appearance in said commercial remain the twits and lightweights they always were.
They have discovered another important new rule of journalism: having no ethics means never having to say you're sorry.
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