The New York Times has an ethics policy that bars its reporters from investing in companies in their beat coverage. So why is it publishing Techcrunch headlines?

If go to the home page of New York Times, or to its technology section, you will likely see headlines from a selection of partners, which includes Techcrunch.

The New York Times is vouching for the integrity of its media partners, it implies that those stories have the same ethics as those of its own.

However, Mike Arrington, editor of Techcrunch, was recently forced to reveal his investments in startups covered by Techcrunch and said that his future coverage will have “conflicts of interests.”

There is nothing to stop Techcrunch writers from following suit.

Therefore, should the New York Times be publishing Techcrunch headlines?

Should publications only syndicate content from sources that match their own ethics code?

[Cross-posted at Silicon Valley Watcher]