WaPo Misread Powerpoint- Story on Feds tapping directly into internet companies was wrong & rushed

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51. There doesn't seem to be a compelling need

to explore extraordinary explanations for the Washington Post's backing off from their earlier claims. The "pressure" would seem to be the editor's legitimate concern over the accuracy of their published journalism.

I don't really see much in common with investigative journalist Gary Webb's series on the crack-cocaine epidemic that ran in the San Jose Mercury news -- if that's what you're referring to. His important three-part series was the culmination of his long and detailed investigation into the link between the Nicaraguan Contras, the CIA, and crack-cocaine in the United States. There's no doubt that the importance of his series was under-appreciated by his editors and Webb quit the paper shortly after the series was published. But I'm not aware of any serious allegations that the lack of support from his editors was anything other than just poor judgement on their part.