"Ohio Paper Holding 2 Investigative Stories"

[Bluebear]

Hmmm...

CLEVELAND - The Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest newspaper, is holding two investigative stories based on leaked documents because they could result in the type of court showdown that led to a New York Times reporter being jailed.

The Plain Dealer is trying to find a way to publish the stories without relying on the documents, editor Doug Clifton said Friday.

"It was documentation that would have been illegal to share, so there wasn't any ambiguity about what we had," Clifton said.

Clifton said he had never before withheld a story because of such concerns....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050709/ap_on_re_us/newspaper_legal_concerns

[Clark2008]

1. The line in there regarding the newspaper "going to jail" is about

as stupid a quote as I've ever seen.

How does one put a "newspaper" in jail? Do they mean that the publisher is a spineless wimp? Or the editors? Or the owners?

The newspaper cannot be put in jail - and the reporting of leaked information is covered under the First Amendment. Protecting criminals, like Miller is doing, is not. Miller is not in trouble over reporting the info leaked to her - she is in trouble for not revealing who the leaker, i.e. the criminal, is.

[librechik]

2. VERY IMPORTANT STORY__MUST READ

Ohio DUers, get in touch with the Plain Dealer and ask them why they sell their souls rather than protect the public interest.

I wonder if these 2 stories have anything to do with the 2004 election!

[Bluebear]

3. EXACTLY! nt

[Clark2008]

4. I have it on good knowledge that at least one of them does.

I'm not sure about the other one.

And - my source IS protected. :hi:

[MelissaB]

11. Excellent!

:hi:

There is a lot about this scandal in the daily thread in ER&D. Start with today and follow it back. This is story is as tangled as any fiction writer could make it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x382990

[Clark2008]

13. Oh - I'm aware of the stories. I was in 2004 Election & Discussion

from waaaayyyy back. :7

That's where the KOEB was formed. ;)

[MelissaB]

19. Yeah. I know that. :)

I posted that for newbies and those who didn't know. :)

Please let us know when you think it will hit the fan.

[Bill Bored]

25. ER&D? Where's that? nt

[Bluebear]

12. popcorn time!

:popcorn:

[Clark2008]

15. Heh... I was a reporter for 12 years. I have "connections."

No big huge mystery. :hi:

But, I'll take some of that popcorn. :popcorn:

[Bluebear]

16. Not implying mystery...

Just will enjoy watching it unfold with you :)

Buttered or no? :popcorn:

[Clark2008]

17. It's the weekend - screw any diet I might have pretended I was on

during the week.

Buttered!! :7

[Bluebear]

18. Coming right up!!

:toast:

[FreedomAngel82]

22. Really?!

Oh I hope and wish they would print this story! It could change everything!!! Someone needs to have their contact information and send them encouragement! Remember "Deep Throat"!

[FreedomAngel82]

20. Yes

Maybe if enough people in the area write to them to release the stories they will. I wonder what they're about. They obviously don't know why Miller went to jail. She was in a cover up of a consperiacy to out a CIA agent which is treason. If this story they are holding up is dealing with the government and illegal action the people deserve to know. One of my favorite new quotes is from Gary Webb and he says "Authentic journalism is telling the people what the government doesn't want you to know."

[Rick Myers]

5. If it's a state story, they have protection

I don't think the Pee Dee is investigating a national story. Of course, the Pukes will spin it which ever way they need to...

[despairing optimist]

6. This story is a prime example of why each sheld-law case is different

In the Valerie Plame case, damage was done to her, her sources, and the US by revealing her identity. In this case the greater damage may lie in *not* revealing the facts involved. I hope this can be made clear to those who think that sources should be protected no matter what the circumstances or the outcome.

[redacted]

7. kick NT

[Ready2Snap]

8. The rub here

is as with the Plame story, do the documents provide proof of illegal activity concerning national security matters.

As the editor of Time stated on Charlie Rose the other day - I'm paraphrasing:
The law is paramount, especially with regards to matters that deal with national security
(I think rigging an election that gave the loser a victory counts) and no one is above the law.
That was the overarching lesson of Watergate.

Now, if they could verify what is in the documents thru
a second, independent source, as Woodward did with Watergate, the heat's off.

[FreedomAngel82]

23. The Time editor mentioned an important part

No one is above the law. Even the president and his administration. Not one of them is above the law whether they be republican or democratic.

[Timshel]

9. Contact Information

This is big, in so many ways! Who knows what these stories are about, but regardless we need to remind them of their job as the public's watchdog!


Douglas C. Clifton
Editor
Phone: [phone]
[e-mail]

Managing Editor
Tom O'Hara
[e-mail]
216.999.4737

Alex Machaskee
President and Publisher
216.999.4217
[e-mail]

Robert M. Long
Executive Vice President
216.999.4386
[e-mail]

I am going to post in DU Activist as well.....

[Career Prole]

10. AAARRRGGGHHH!!! Horseshit!!

"He wrote a column June 30 explaining to readers why it's important to protect sources, and how the public would suffer if reporters' ability to gather news is compromised."

We've bloody well seen how the public will suffer if the news the reporters gather isn't reported, now haven't we?!
How's about you report it and we all take our chances, eh, because just gathering the shit hasn't done anyone a speck of good! :grr:

[Straight Shooter]

21. So true, so true.

Has the Pee Dee looked at the recent polls of the public's trust in the media, newspapers included? Could they for one minute engage in some genuine critical thinking and perhaps come to the conclusion that the public is tired of pablum and infotainment, perhaps we would like some real news.

All the Pee Dee has to do is send the offending material to the Toledo Blade in a plain brown envelope, no return address. Let some real reporters do the job that they don't have the stomach for.

[Edgewater_Joe]

14. The Pee Dee Has Always Been A S***ty Newspaper

Remember, this is the same fish rag that refused to endorse Kerry because their editor had a bug up his ass about Kosovo, so they wound up endorsing nobody.

They are a gutless cut-and-paste job and have been for at least the last 30 years. This should surprise nobody.

[MercutioATC]

24. I disagree. They seem to do a pretty good job.

As far as endorsing Kerry, I wouldn't have endorsed Kerry either. I voted for him, but only as a vote against Bush.

For a town the size of Cleveland, I think it's a pretty decent paper.

[Edgewater_Joe]

26. The Akron Beacon-Journal Runs Rings 'Round The Pee Dee

They sucked then, they suck now, they will always suck.

[MercutioATC]

27. That's the think about opinions...

...everybody has one.

Personally, I can't stand the Beacon-Journal.

[justinsb]

28. Not B.S. this is the kind of thing I was afraid of...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4066434&mesg_id=4066434