After a two-month suspension, the New York Times will reinstate suspended reporter Glenn Thrush. The Times suspended the White House correspondent in late November as it investigated allegations about his behavior.
When Thrush returns to the paper, he will not be on the White House beat, however. The Times suspended Thrush exactly one month ago, on Nov. 20, after Vox published allegations that Thrush made unwanted sexual advances toward four women.
In a statement posted on Twitter from Times editor-in-chief Dean Baquet, the New York Times said, “Glenn has behaved in ways that we do not condone” but that the Times didn’t believe he needed to be fired. Instead, the Times decided the punishment of a two-month suspension and taking him off the White House beat would be an appropriate response. Thrush also “will receive training designed to improve his workplace conduct,” and is “undergoing counseling and substance abuse rehabilitation on his own.”
The Times‘ own news story on Thrush today reported that Thrush’s suspension was “without pay.”
The Times provided iMediaEthics with its statement, below:
The New York Times Statement on Glenn Thrush
We have completed our investigation into Glenn Thrush’s behavior, which included dozens of interviews with people both inside and outside the newsroom. We found that Glenn has behaved in ways that we do not condone.
While we believe that Glenn has acted offensively, we have decided that he does not deserve to be fired. Instead, we have suspended him for two months and removed him from the White House beat. He will receive training designed to improve his workplace conduct. In addition, Glenn is undergoing counseling and substance abuse rehabilitation on his own. We will reinstate him as a reporter on a new beat upon his return.
We understand that our colleagues and the public at large are grappling with what constitutes sexually offensive behavior in the workplace and what consequences are appropriate. It is an important debate with far-reaching consequences that we helped spark with our journalism and that we’ve been reflecting on internally as well.
Each case has to be evaluated based on individual circumstances. We believe this is an appropriate response to Glenn’s situation.
The Times is committed not only to our leading coverage of this issue but also to ensuring that we provide a working environment where all of our colleagues feel respected, safe and supported.
— Dean Baquet