Steve Grove's unethical advice for Tim Walz

According to this Minnesota Reformer article, Steve Grove, "the top executive at the Star Tribune and former commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, offered advice and compliments to Gov. Tim Walz’s office after his departure from the governor’s cabinet." Simply put, Grove didn't really leave DEED. The Strib and Gov. Walz's office sent statements rationalizing their continued connections with each other.

The Strib's statement said "These personal texts were between two friends of nearly 20 years, and have no bearing on the business or editorial decisions of the Star Tribune. The Star Tribune’s continued independence is our top priority as we continue to produce quality journalism for Minnesota." What a pile of BS.

Grove is a Democrat. His first priority is to further the DFL's agenda. If he's the CEO of the Strib, his first priority isn't to the Strib. It's to the DFL. Period.

Jane Kirtley isn't thrilled with Grove's behavior:

The exchanges between the governor’s office and the publisher of the state’s largest newspaper raise ethical concerns, said Jane Kirtley, director of the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota. "It’s not his role to be a kingmaker for DEED, which is basically what’s happening if he’s providing advice about who they should hire," Kirtley said, adding that it would have been appropriate to offer his thoughts publicly in the form of an editorial.

"If you’re going to be involved in vetting, commenting on, advising government, then I think you have to be transparent about it, and then the public can make its own decision about whether that taints the reporting in the news organization," Kirtley said.

Here's Kirtley's interview on Almanac:

During this interview, moderator Eric Eskola asked Prof. Kirtley if it mattered if Grove was the publisher, not a reporter. As a blogger, I work hard to err on the side of transparency. I know that isn't the same thing. Still, being a publisher means you aren't allowed to offer insights to your former boss. There should be a clear, bright line between personal friendships and professional advice.