In Stand for Free Press, Pulitzer Journalists Declare Support for James Risen

[Judi Lynn]

In Stand for Free Press, Pulitzer Journalists Declare Support for James Risen

Published on Monday, August 11, 2014

by Common Dreams

In Stand for Free Press, Pulitzer Journalists Declare Support for James Risen

"It has fallen to reporters like Risen to keep Americans informed and to question whether a gigantic government in the shadows is really even a good idea," writes Washington Post investigative reporter Dana Priest.

by Lauren McCauley, staff writer

Fourteen Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists on Monday issued statements declaring their support for New York Times reporter James Risen, who has vowed to go to jail rather than reveal a confidential source despite the U.S. Justice Department's dogged insistence on his testimony.

Risen has been ordered by the Justice Department (DOJ) to testify in the prosecution of a CIA officer accused of leaking classified information about U.S. efforts to undermine Iran's nuclear program, information that Risen revealed in his 2006 book State of War.

According to fellow reporters, Risen's case has in many ways already done "substantial and lasting damage" to the state of journalism in the United States and threatens the very notion of our First Amendment right to Freedom of the Press. The statements were released ahead of a Thursday press conference at the National Press Club during which many of the major U.S. press freedom organizations will deliver a petition with over 100,000 signatures calling on the DOJ to drop their subpoena.

In early June, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene on Risen's behalf, despite his claim that his First Amendment rights were violated.

"Enough is enough," says New York Times reporter David Barstow, 2013 and 2009 Pulitzer winner for Investigative Reporting and 2004 winner for Public Service. "The relentless and by all appearances vindictive effort by two administrations to force Jim Risen into betraying his sources has already done substantial and lasting damage to journalism in the United States."

More:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/11/stand-free-press-pulitzer-journalists-declare-support-james-risen

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Judi Lynn.

[neeksgeek]

2. This...

"...substantial and lasting damage to journalism in the United States."

Is exactly what those in power want.

[Blue_Tires]

3. I don't quite get the "substantial and lasting damage" line

Countless journalists before Risen tangentially involved in a criminal trial have been court-ordered to reveal sources...Most don't and eat the contempt charge (and yes, I've personally known of one), but some do...


So after reading the documents from the court decision, what makes Risen's case different?