A potential conflict of interest has sparked debate over the neutrality of Reuters’ COVID-19 coverage. Public records show James C. Smith, President and CEO of Thomson Reuters from 2012 to 2020, also served on Pfizer’s Board of Directors from 2014.
This overlap raises questions about journalistic ethics, as Reuters, a leading global news outlet, extensively covered the pandemic, including fact-checking vaccine-related “misinformation.” Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine, a cornerstone of the global response, tied the company’s success to public trust in vaccine safety and efficacy—topics Reuters reported on heavily.
Critics argue Smith’s dual roles created a conflict, given his fiduciary duty to Pfizer while leading Thomson Reuters. Although Smith retired as CEO in March 2020, succeeded by Steve Hasker, his tenure coincided with the critical pre-pandemic vaccine development period. No evidence suggests Smith directly influenced Reuters’ coverage, but the relationship alone fuels skepticism about impartiality.
This case highlights the challenges of maintaining journalistic integrity amid interconnected corporate leadership, where executives often hold influential roles across industries, raising concerns about objectivity in news reporting.
