PressEthic

For those of you who missed the half-page Thank You, Judith Miller! “ad” on page A18 of Friday’s New York Times, authors, presidents, editors, journalists, and heads of companies in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula want America to know they love Judy Miller.

For those of you who missed it, feast your eyes on the gush-fest:

Judith Miller, a reporter for The New York Times, was held in jail for 85 days because she would not reveal the identity of her confidential sources. Ms. Miller refused to testify in an investigation into how the name of a U.S. intelligence officer was leaked. She had no part in identifying that officer, and was protecting those who spoke to her on condition of anonymity. She was released when her source gave her permission to discuss their conversations.

Ms. Miller’s work, like that of journalists everywhere, relies on the use of inside sources to accurately report on the workings of government, corporations, and other organizations. Whistle-blowers and insiders often provide information that can not be obtained by other means, and they are typically willing to speak to reporters only if their identities are shielded. To betray their trust would halt this flow of information and undermine a pillar of democratic society: conscientious and engaged citizens, and an informed public.

Free and independent communications media are a deterrent to corruption and the abuse of power. The inverse is also true. The nations of Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula – where freedom of expression and of the press have been hard-fought and maintained only with perseverance – know this from experience. The United States, over the course of its history, has provided a valuable model of a society in which democratic structures have empowered citizens. Democratic government should always seek to promote these freedoms.

Ms. Miller’s noble actions have garnered global attention and warrant the esteem of freedom-loving people everywhere. We join with her colleagues and fellow citizens in recognizing her convictions and courage.

Wow, these countries must know something we don’t! Perhaps one of the representatives who have attached their name to this statement could come into our class and accurately describe to us what really happened and why.

It’s amazing to me that while other countries are hailing Judy Miller as a hero, American journalists are tearing her, and The New York Times, to shreds.

Michael Kinsley of Slate writes in his article "The New York Times’ next First Amendment embarrassment",

“Here in mediaworld, we're all quite cross at the New York Times and its former star reporter, Judith Miller. She is widely believed to have sought her martyrdom as a career move. And then she gave up after a mere couple of months in jail. What a wuss!”

When you put it that way, how can you not agree?

I wonder what these folks south of the border have to gain by buying space in The New York Times to promote their support of Judy Miller? Especially when The Times itself isn’t toasting good ‘ol Judy themselves in the paper. Perhaps Judy can find friends among these Spanish speaking supporters and pass around her resume incase she gets fired.