re: More thoughts on the NYT's Rohde cover-up

GuyfromNH — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:36:46 GMT

Adam,

I'd be more understanding of the Times' position as well except for two specific cases where they put individuals in harm's way for the sake of a story... and not in a global, releasing-government-secrets-balanced-against-people's-right-to-know deal...

The first is when they identified, *by name*, a CIA officer involved in the interrogation of terrorism suspects. There was never any accusation that this officer had done anything illegal or even remotely approaching torture. He did his job in a professional, humane way, and got good intelligence, but the Times outed him, exposing he and his family to danger. Where was the need there for the Times to specifically name him?

The second is during the Obama-McCain campaign, when the Times identified one of McCain's sons as an active duty Marine officer, who had served in Iraq and who might be returning to duty there... and despite the strong pleadings from the McCains that their son -- who was not involved in the campaign -- be left alone, again, the Times outed him. And a quick Google search later, any terrorist could have McCain's son's photograph... again, the Times placed him in severe danger, and for what purpose or value?

So when the Times pleads for special understanding to protect one of their own... I understand it, but I understand the rank hypocrisy even better.

re: More thoughts on the NYT's Rohde cover-up

tallape — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:02:10 GMT

Unquestionably, yes, the Times was right on this one (as was Jimmy Wales and the Wikipedia Foundation).

(Okay, questionably, but still.)

In the wiretapping case (and any number of similar cases through the years), there's a harm involved. To the Constitution, to principles that this country has said that it holds dear, and so on.

In the case of David Rohde, there was only one harm involved: the potential harm to the individual. That makes it, in my view, a no-brainer.

The obvious response is that there's a harm here to the First Amendment. But freedom of the press doesn't mean that the press has to publish every piece of information that it has; it means that press is free to publish information if it chooses to. And if others decide that the reason they're given not to publish is compelling, they don't need to do so either.

Journalism is a competitive industry; if there were a threat to the First Amendment, someone would have had this story on the front page months ago.