Robert Lemos is an independent technology journalist. He believes that journalists have a duty to report the news independent of corporate interests and to act in the public’s interest. As such, he abides by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, with the following disclosures:
- To minimize any perception of conflict of interest, he will not own stock in any company in an industry that he covers (currently, computer software, computer hardware, and space-exploration technology); and
- Anytime a story mentions a publication or company for which he has a contractual relationship, he will note that relationship.
Current disclosures
Robert Lemos is under contract with SecurityFocus, an information and news Web site owned by security firm Symantec, to provide daily news and investigative reports for publication on the SecurityFocus Web site. He is providing this service under the title of “Editor-at-large.” He pledges to abide by the SPJ’s Code of Ethics and report independently of Symantec’s interests, to never surrender his notes to the company, nor own stock in the company. Anytime he mention Symantec–or an organization to which the company belongs–in an article, he will note SecurityFocus’s relationship to the company.
Mr. Lemos occasionally writes for Wired News as a correspondent in the field of space sciences, covering technologies developed for space flight, exploration and settlement as well as the privatization of space launch capabilities. He pledges to abide by the SPJ’s Code of Ethics and not own stock in the company. Anytime he mention Wired News or Conde Nast in an article, he will note his relationship to the company. Wired News currently requires that reporters submit contact information for all sources used in articles for publication.
Mr. Lemos occasionally writes for CXO Media on enterprise technology. He pledges to abide by the SPJ’s Code of Ethics and report independently of CXO Media’s interests and to not own stock in the publisher’s parent company, IDC. Anytime he mention CXO Media, or its parent company IDC, in an article, he will note his relationship to the company.
Mr. Lemos investments includes the stocks of, at any one time, between five and ten companies (currently, eight). He typically invests for a period of at least a year. Mr. Lemos will not invest in companies that have business interest in industries that he covers, including computer software, computer hardware and space-exploration technology. He is currently invested in companies in the following industries: clothing, energy, financial services, food services, leisure, machinery, digital-analog circuit design and real-estate management.
Mr. Lemos has the following disclosures in related to his investments:
- On April 22, CIO.com published an article written by Mr. Lemos, Open-source ERP Grows Up, which briefly mentioned a lawsuit involving Waste Manangement Inc. At the time, Mr. Lemos owned shares in Waste Management Inc. Mr. Lemos notified the editors of CIO of a possible conflict. The publication does not require such disclosures in articles.