We noted here on June 3 that a USA Today column by former Secretary of States James Baker was missing some important disclosure.

Baker argued that the United States needs to encourage more domestic oil drilling. Baker championed efforts by Shell to drill in Alaska, which have been stymied by government bureaucrats.

As FAIR noted, Baker's Rice University institute receives funding from an array of energy companies, including Shell-- which also funds the institute's lecture series. It would be normal for a newspaper to mention this to readers, but USA Today did not.

After receiving a letter from FAIR, the paper issued this correction yesterday (which is hard to find on their website):

USA TODAY
June 8, 2011 Wednesday
FINAL EDITION
Corrections & Clarifications

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 10A

A June 1 Forum column by former secretary of State James Baker on Alaska energy exploration should have noted that Baker has links to Shell Oil Co., which is mentioned in the piece. The James A. Baker III Center at Rice University receives funding from Shell, and the company also sponsors a lecture series for Baker's institute.

The headline above this USA Today op-ed read like a slightly wordier version of a Sarah Palin bumper sticker slogan: "Cut the Red Tape: Free Up Oil Drilling in Alaska."

The author is former George H.W. Bush Secretary of State James Baker, and he writes:

Even more domestic offshore drilling will be required if our country is to increase its stable and secure energy. One reasonable place to accomplish that goal lies beneath the waters off of Alaska's northern shores.

He tells the tale of an underdog corporation fighting the good fight--only to be stymied by government bureaucrats:

An effort by Shell Oil Co. is a case in point. During the past five years, Shell has been acquiring 10-year federal leases in the Beaufort Sea to the northeast of Alaska and the Chukchi Sea to the northwest. The company has spent more than $2 billion on the leases and $1.5 billion preparing a drilling program with state-of-the-art mitigation and safety measures. These plans have been transparent to stakeholders, regulators and the courts. However, federal officials continue to balk at delivering the permits necessary to begin drilling, most recently questioning the effects on air quality in the region. As the bureaucratic delays continue, this has become a test case for other energy producers wanting to drill there.

Why talk about Shell's efforts? There are probably other energy companies doing the same. Why makes Shell so special?

That might have something to do with Baker's other gig--namely, the Baker Center at Rice University. Particularly the Energy Forum at the Baker Center, which is funded by a variety of energy companies, including Shell. In fact, the energy giant underwrites the Shell Distinguished Lecture Series, which is apparently "the Baker Institute's flagship speakers program."

It is customary for newspapers to alert readers to such conflicts--something USA Today failed to do.