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Stories abound about newly minted millionaires created by Silicon Valley stock options.
And in the last few months, those headlines have included tales of journalists cashing in on lucrative Internet stock. The debate in the press began quickly on whether reporters should be allowed to invest in the industries they cover, and on what constitutes a conflict of interest. Many journalists and ethics experts say Nolan should have known to steer clear of investing in any high-tech company because of her beat responsibilities. In July, Nolan was suspended and then reassigned as a reporter in the paper's Peninsula Bureau, losing her column on Silicon Valley, for taking advantage of a friend's offer to buy discounted shares of a company. Two editors also were disciplined.