Journalists' group condemns NBC for bringing NJ man, son home from Brazil on jet

The Society of Professional Journalists condemned NBC News for practising "chequebook journalism" by chartering a jet that carried a New Jersey man involved in a bitter custody battle and his son home from Brazil. David Goldman, who successfully fought the Brazilian family of his now-deceased ex-wife for custody of 9-year-old Sean, granted an interview to Meredith Vieira of NBC's "Today" show that aired Monday. NBC said Goldman was booked for "Today" before the network invited him on the plane. The network had already arranged for the plane to bring its own employees home for Christmas, NBC News spokeswoman Lauren Kapp said. If NBC hadn't brought the Goldmans' home, one of its rivals would have, she said.