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Why James Rosen Is Not Blameless
Why James Rosen Is Not Blameless
The Justice Department should not be chasing national security reporters. But those reporters have a responsibility, too.
By Fred Kaplan
As Eric Holder wrings his hands in remorse over his feverish pursuit of Fox News reporter James Rosen’s phone records, it’s worth noting that, when it comes to national security leaks, some things are secret—and should be kept that way—for a reason.
In Rosen’s case, the alarm bells went off not because he reported that North Korea was about to conduct a nuclear-weapons test but because he reported that the CIA learned of this fact from a source inside North Korea. In other words, Rosen revealed that the CIA had a source inside North Korea. It’s unclear whether the source was a human spy or a communications intercept; it’s also irrelevant because, thanks to this story, the source is probably no longer alive or active.
<...>
It may seem odd for someone who has been reporting on national security matters for a few decades to say this, but just because the government is doing something in secret—and just because a leaker tells someone like me about it—that doesn’t necessarily mean it should see the light of day. That is especially so if the secret activity in question doesn’t break laws, expose deceit, kill people, violate basic decency, or … (feel free to add to this list).
Serious journalists, even the most doggedly determined ones, have known this for a long time. That also isn’t to say that they should, or do, brood routinely over the consequences of their scoops; but some limits are obvious. For instance, it’s well known that the New York Times and other publications excised the names of certain people from WikiLeaks documents, especially foreign sources and translators, to keep them from being killed by Iraqi or Afghan insurgents.
- more -
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2013/05/james_rosen_and_the_justice_department_leak_investigation_the_fox_news_reporter.html
The Justice Department should not be chasing national security reporters. But those reporters have a responsibility, too.
By Fred Kaplan
As Eric Holder wrings his hands in remorse over his feverish pursuit of Fox News reporter James Rosen’s phone records, it’s worth noting that, when it comes to national security leaks, some things are secret—and should be kept that way—for a reason.
In Rosen’s case, the alarm bells went off not because he reported that North Korea was about to conduct a nuclear-weapons test but because he reported that the CIA learned of this fact from a source inside North Korea. In other words, Rosen revealed that the CIA had a source inside North Korea. It’s unclear whether the source was a human spy or a communications intercept; it’s also irrelevant because, thanks to this story, the source is probably no longer alive or active.
<...>
It may seem odd for someone who has been reporting on national security matters for a few decades to say this, but just because the government is doing something in secret—and just because a leaker tells someone like me about it—that doesn’t necessarily mean it should see the light of day. That is especially so if the secret activity in question doesn’t break laws, expose deceit, kill people, violate basic decency, or … (feel free to add to this list).
Serious journalists, even the most doggedly determined ones, have known this for a long time. That also isn’t to say that they should, or do, brood routinely over the consequences of their scoops; but some limits are obvious. For instance, it’s well known that the New York Times and other publications excised the names of certain people from WikiLeaks documents, especially foreign sources and translators, to keep them from being killed by Iraqi or Afghan insurgents.
- more -
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2013/05/james_rosen_and_the_justice_department_leak_investigation_the_fox_news_reporter.html
CNN: DOJ Has Proof It Alerted News Corp. Of Rosen Subpoena
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022918692
CONFIRMED: Fox News Hack James Rosen Is A Political Operative, Not A Journalist
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/10022897356
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