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JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
23. I do not consider Risen to be a "hero." I just consider the freedom of the press to be
Sat Jun 7, 2014, 04:42 PM
Jun 2014

sacrosanct. Who is qualified to decide what the press should or should not publish?

And requiring a reporter to disclose the name of a whistleblower or government informant is the equivalent of prohibiting the reporter from printing the information provided by the whistleblower or informant. It is a round-about means of controlling what is and is not printed.

Government secrecy laws are also a way to muzzle the press, to prevent information from being disseminated. That is understandable in some situations. The press should not print the plans of the police to carry out a drug bust just a day or so before the bust. But in particular when it comes to past events, the government should have almost no secrets from the people.

James Risen and the matter of Wen Ho Lee [View all] struggle4progress Jun 2014 OP
If it was all about Risen, if he was the ONLY reporter to ever have the ability to report on sabrina 1 Jun 2014 #1
Unfortunately, you are right in my view. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #2
Courts do not get classified material Leme Jun 2014 #5
That is simply not correct. Courts can and do get classified material all the time. msanthrope Jun 2014 #7
perhaps I should have said Leme Jun 2014 #8
No...that's not correct at all. Witnesses who will testify as to classified matters msanthrope Jun 2014 #9
hmmm. well I saw a case quoted here that seemed to indicate otherwise Leme Jun 2014 #10
Why not find the case/cite? Then I can comment as to the specific issue. nt msanthrope Jun 2014 #11
I think it has o do with this..wiki Leme Jun 2014 #12
You do realize this only applies to civil cases, right? Not criminal. nt msanthrope Jun 2014 #26
many various "this" in thread, I don't know which this you refer to Leme Jun 2014 #27
But Congress shall pass no law abridging the freedom of the press. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #19
we may be close in our thinking, but Leme Jun 2014 #21
See my post #22. It's tough, but we have to respect the freedom of the press and it has to be JDPriestly Jun 2014 #24
in a case of imminent crime Leme Jun 2014 #25
Precedents for compelling testimony of US journalists in court struggle4progress Jun 2014 #3
See my post # 19. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #20
When the accusations are false Fortinbras Armstrong Jun 2014 #4
I've referenced the shred job Risen did on Lee before, as have you. That he went to msanthrope Jun 2014 #6
for me, hero or not Leme Jun 2014 #13
But blanket confidentiality? randome Jun 2014 #14
I did edit almost immediately, about 30 mintes ago Leme Jun 2014 #15
I guess I just missed "deadline". lol Leme Jun 2014 #16
Ha! Happens to me all the time, too! randome Jun 2014 #17
yeah, this is a discussion..not a book Leme Jun 2014 #18
Jefferson, who was the victim of much false gossip printed by irresponsible newspapers, JDPriestly Jun 2014 #22
I do not consider Risen to be a "hero." I just consider the freedom of the press to be JDPriestly Jun 2014 #23
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