News-Record.com

After the school board voted to offer the superintendent's job to Mo Green last night, board member Amos Quick thanked the two assistant superintendents who had run the school system for the past several months. The board and the crowd gave the one assistant who was there a standing ovation.

The reporter from the News & Record remained seated, taking notes.

It may seem rude, but it is generally a rule that reporters don't applaud much of anyone when they're on the job covering a news event. It goes with the turf of being independent of the people and institutions you cover.

I thought of this as I've read about the exuberance with which Sen. Obama is expected to be received at the Unity Convention, a conference of members of the national associations of Black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian American journalists. If there is cheering among supposedly objective, unbiased journalists, how will it be interpreted?

I understand the significance of having a minority candidate in a serious run for the highest office in the land. I think I can understand how personally exciting that is. And I certainly see and feel his charisma.

But then I also remember the abuse that one of our reporters took when she expressed, with too much exuberance, her appreciation for Condi Rice at the end of an interview with the Secretary of State a few years ago.

No question that personal feelings can outrun professional obligations. We don't permit journalists to campaign for candidates or put bumper stickers or post yard signs for candidates. We don't want to put our credibility in jeopardy. We vote, but we also exercise dispassionate detachment as best we can. We know that some members of the public question our objectivity, and we don't want to further fuel the perception that we favor one candidate over another.

In 1999, I attended a journalists conference where then President Clinton was invited to speak. He was politely applauded at his introduction and at the end of his talk. Politely. Most of us were simply conference attendees; I didn't see the working reporters clapping.

Myself, on Sunday, I hope Sen. Obama is greeted with applause, polite, respectful applause.

Sunday update: From a Chicago Tribune report: At UNITY, the applause was restrained, after organizers reminded conference participants that the appearance was being nationally broadcast and they should make every effort to maintain "professional decorum."

Still, Obama received a standing ovation from many in the audience at the start and end of his appearance. There was also a rush toward the stage after his speech, as Obama shook hands and signed autographs.