Fit to print: Now that she is free of legal entanglements in the CIA Leak scandal, New York Times reporter Judith Miller is free to write her account of her involvement in the scandal. The story will probably appear in tomorrow’s Times, and could be available online later this afternoon.
The Times has taken a lot heat in journalism circles over its pallid coverage of the Miller affair. Just as the White House is braced for indictments of Karl Rove and others, many in the executive suites at the Times know that their jobs – along with the reputation of America’s purported “newspaper of record” – are on the line.
Jay Rosen at PressThink has been following this story. On Wednesday, he speculated about what Miller may say in the Times today:
Warning: This is just armchair speculation, okay? Could be quite wrong.
The New York Times is in a suspended state, editorially speaking. In fact, the entire organization—with the exception of a few lawyers, a few top executives, a few top editors, plus Jon Landman and his crew—is in the dark about Miller, uncertain of what a full investigation will find, unwilling to speak in the absence of knowledge now being gathered, fearful that the emerging story could be devastating to:
- the reputation of the New York Times for independence and honesty
- the stand on high principle that took Judy Miller to jail
- the positions of the people in charge (the editors, the publisher) who supported that stand as selfless and heroic
- whole portions of the Times news coverage, as happened with its faulty reporting on Saddam’s weapons
- an intelligent reader’s confidence in the Times as reputable news source
- their own illusions about the New York Times as pillar of a free press
Which of these will be toppled by the end of the month? Which will be standing? No one knows. Any or all could be in ruins when the facts come out. Or none. This creates anxiety
We’ll be waiting…
