Walters in the Soup

By Stephen M. Silverman

06/30/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times shook fingers this week at the seemingly untouchable newswoman Barbara Walters, 69, for what is being called in many circles a serious breech of ethics. The situation stems from blending commercials with program content on "The View," ABC's syndicated morning chat show that is cohosted and produced by Walters. Campbell Soup Co. has reportedly signed on, for an undisclosed sum, as a prominent sponsor for eight episodes of the show. On yesterday's program, viewers witnessed co-executive producer Bill Geddie downing his Campbell's "Soup of the Day" (beef noodle). Next Monday, co-hosts Joy Behar and Lisa Ling are set to do a stunt involving the collection of Campbell's labels in a wind tunnel. Walters, who claims she canceled an on-air audience tasting that was to have been held on Tuesday because "it was too blatant," denies that she has compromised her ethics, telling the Associated Press that the "Today" show's regular segments on 100-year-year-olds celebrating their birthdays are sponsored by a jelly company.