Media Credit: Kai-Huei Yau Kurt Eichenwald gives his acceptance speech for the Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism he received at the University on May 25, 2006. [Click to enlarge]

When the School of Journalism and Communication presented New York Times reporter Kurt Eichenwald with a Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism last spring, it commended his transparent and compassionate journalism in a high-profile story. But after revelations recently surfaced that Eichenwald paid a key source, an ethical debate simmered behind closed doors.

At stake is one question, volleyed via e-mail and in the corridors of Allen Hall: Should the Payne judges strip Eichenwald of his award, or at least make the internal debate public?

Eichenwald's December 2005 coverage of a 13-year-old boy, persuaded by illicit drugs and easy money to spend years in a world of child pornography and abuse, was praised by the Payne judges for its preservation of "editorial integrity." The story's transparency of reporting and Eichenwald's efforts to assist a main source in "escaping the pornography trade and rehabilitating himself," also made a strong impact on the Payne judges, according to a press statement released spring 2006.

Now, the ethics behind Eichenwald's ethics award has been called into question by a March 6 Editors' Note in The New York Times that stated Eichenwald had given Justin Berry, his main source, a $2,000 check.

"Mr. Eichenwald explained in his essay that, at the outset, he did not identify himself to Mr. Berry as a reporter. After they met in person, but before he decided that he wanted to write an article, Mr. Eichenwald said he told the youth that the money would have to be returned. Times policy forbids paying the subjects of articles for information or interviews. A member of Mr. Berry's family helped repay the $2,000," according to the note.

The story was picked up by The Associated Press and syndicated across the country.

Continued...

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