Society Of Professional Journalists

Longtime News political reporter, Charlie Cain, dies at 60

Charlie Cain, who detailed the successes and foibles of politicians in Lansing for more than three decades for The Detroit News died Saturday morning at Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital after a brief battle with cancer. He was 60.

"Charlie was a consummate journalist who served Michigan readers with an exhaustive knowledge of state government and politics," Detroit News Publisher and Editor Jonathan Wolman said. "Public policy is a full-contact sport in Lansing; Charlie's dogged reporting of the many issues and personalities made his byline a fixture on our front page."

Mr. Cain began his career in newspapers as a copy boy while studying journalism at Michigan State University. He served as managing editor of The State News, the college newspaper. In the early 1980s, he worked as capitol correspondent for WJBK-TV.

During his time at The News, Mr. Cain covered local and statewide politics. He won numerous awards for his work.

"Charlie was among the finest reporters I encountered during my time in Lansing," said former Gov. Jennifer Granholm. "His brand of journalism — fair, objective and accurate — was something to be admired. As a political figure, I was always willing to take his call because he wanted to get it right and he always did. I extend my sympathy to his entire family."

Liz Boyd, Granholm's spokeswoman, said it was a privilege to know Mr. Cain.

"There wasn't much that could surprise Charlie but I will never forget his reaction to the news we planned to end funding for the State Fair in Detroit because of the budget. He was simply astonished. I recall him saying something to the effect: 'This is big — there are people that got their first kiss at the State Fair.'

"It was just one example of the kind of guy he was: a tough, smart journalist who had a soft heart. I liked him so much and my heart goes out to his wonderful family."

Former Gov. William G. Milliken said: "I knew and admired Charlie over a long time as a highly respected journalist and friend. He was a beacon of excellence in journalism. He was tough but fair in his coverage of politics, which is not surprising since he came from such a talented family of journalists."

Bob Giles, who served as editor and publisher of the News from 1986 to 1996, said Mr. Cain had "an eye for great stories."

"In the late 1980s and early 1990s, The News had a large and influential Lansing Bureau. Charlie was the backbone of that operation," Giles said, who arrived at the News as executive editor, then was editor and, in 1989, became editor and publisher .

Society of Professional Journalists News: SPJ Ethics Committee ...

For Immediate Release:

Contacts:
Hagit Limor, SPJ President, (513) 852-4012, hlimor@spj.org
Kevin Smith, SPJ Ethics Committee Chairman, ksmith@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS – The revelation this week that ABC News paid a second source close to the Casey Anthony murder trial – raising the total price of exclusive coverage to $215,000 – underscores a growing trend of buying news content and it stands to undermine journalistic credibility, the Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee said today.

ABC News and other networks have paid licensing fees for exclusive information in the past, and those practices have been challenged by SPJ as undermining news legitimacy and creating an environment of “truth-selling.”

In this latest incident, the man who found the body of Caylee Anthony testified this week at the trial that ABC paid him $15,000 for the rights to the picture of a snake similar to those that infest the area in central Florida where the child’s body was found.

Roy Kronk told the jury he knew the reason for the payment.

“I was paid for a licensed picture of a snake, but I knew there would probably be an interview involved,” he said.

Kronk appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” for an “exclusive interview” in January .

Checkbook journalism, the practice of obtaining exclusive interviews by the roundabout method of licensing photos and videos, violates the SPJ Code of Ethics, which advises journalists to “act independently.” That includes being “wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.” Read the full SPJ Code of Ethics .

“This is no longer a developing trend. It’s a habit,” said Kevin Smith, chairman of the SPJ Ethics Committee. “Paying sources for exclusivity, under any name, calls into question the motives of the source and the news outlets.”

This brings to at least $215,000 the amount ABC has paid for exclusive information in the disappearance and death of the two-year-old in June 2008, according to its own accounts. Previous court testimony has disclosed that the network paid $200,000 as a licensing fee for Anthony family photos, money Anthony has used to pay for her legal defense. The network also paid for a three-night hotel stay for the child’s grandparents.

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