http://twitter.com/#!/romenesko/status/183993497672613888

From Green Bay Press Gazette editor Kevin Corrado:

In this politically charged climate, Wisconsin residents have gotten caught up in state politics with an intensity not seen in decades.

It’s an issue this newspaper has covered extensively, including Sunday, when the Gannett Wisconsin Media Investigative Team broke a story exposing 29 circuit court judges who signed the petitions to recall Gov. Scott Walker.

Our journalists are expected to provide you with the clearest pictureof the news as it develops — with objectivity and impartiality. And, as readers, you must be able to trust that your newspaper is providing you the most complete picture, without bias of any kind.

In the interest of full transparency, we are informing readers today that 25 Gannett Wisconsin Media journalists, including seven at the Green Bay Press-Gazette, signed the recall petition. It was wrong, and those who signed the petition were in breach of Gannett’s principles of ethical conduct.

Here’s how the anti-Walker journos rationalized the breach of conduct:

A number of the journalists told their editors they did not consider signing the petition a political act. They equated it to casting a ballot in an election. But we do not make that distinction.

All citizens, including journalists, have a right to hold their own opinions about political issues.

Journalists can and do voice their opinions about political issues with their colleagues, friends or family. Journalists can and do vote in elections. Those actions are appropriate.

But journalists who work within a professional news organization must go to extra lengths to ensure against even the impression of favoring a candidate or a position.

Twitter reaction from Wisconsin newspaper readers, journos, and politicos:

Wisconsin journalists signed Gov. Walker recall petitions http://t.co/lGd3rMw5 via @zite I am not surprised. Disappointed but not surprised

— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) March 25, 2012

@newsbusters My local paper, the Poughkeepsie Journal is owned by Gannet, and they are deep in the tank for the left. Terrible paper. #tcot

— Zilla Stevenson (@ZillaStevenson) March 25, 2012

As an ex-newspaper editor, I would fire them. RT @maggiepolitico: 25 WI journalists signed Gov. Walker recall petition. http://t.co/Pb23S6hu

— Kelly Johnston (@johnston_kelly) March 25, 2012

Newspaper executives have a different code of ethics than the one they enforce on mere journalists http://t.co/MQPt6D5K

— Dan Gillmor (@dangillmor) March 25, 2012

Why would executives scolding employees for being honest about their opinions not be honest about who wrote the scold? http://t.co/GZ4UHlzP

— Steve Buttry (@stevebuttry) March 25, 2012

There was a time when people would have been surprised by this story: http://t.co/ltBk2ZEs

— John Ellis (@41jellis) March 25, 2012

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/03/25/25-wisc-journalists-signed-walker-recall-petition/