NYT Freelancer Loses Gig Over Thrillist’s Jamaica Trip

Last week we ran an article that incorrectly speculated that Newsweek‘s ethics issue with Thrillist.com‘s Jamaica Junket for over 100 members of the press would force them to take repercussions against Kurt Soller, a staff writer who took up the invitation. Newsweek contacted us and said Soller was not the issue: He had been given permission by his editor, though the publication still planned to reimburse Thrillist for the trip. No actions were to be taken against Soller.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Mike Albo of The New York Times (also known as the bitingly funny The Underminer), who freelances for the Times as The Critical Shopper. He was fired yesterday after a week-long debate over whether the nature of his taking the trip’s freebies constituted an ethical violation. As Albo told NYMag.com‘s Daily Intel gamely:

“I look forward to trying on cashmere sweaters I can’t afford for other publications.”

Thrillist Junket Fallout: Times Freelancer Mike Albo Fired –Daily Intel

Earlier: Newsweek Calls Thrillist-Tripping Journos on Ethics Violations

(Photo via Brooklyn Paper)

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