Tag Archives: reporters

Learn how to be secure as a journalist in a hostile environment


By SB Anderson

About 1,000 journalists around the world have been killed in the line of duty in the past two decades; the pie chart above shows a breakdown of the situations in which they perished, according to data from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Journalists need to take responsibility for their own security. The changing economy of the news business makes it increasingly harder for journalists to rely on security advisors.

Instead, both international and local journalists need to assess their own risks and needs in advance of embarking on a dangerous story.

In our latest “NSZ 101” how-to guide for reporters, security expert Frank Smyth offers a comprehensive look at how to prepare to visit a hostile situation and how to go about your business while there, and deal with the stress of what you’ve been through once you’re home. → Read the full guide.

Chilling ruling for journalists


By SB Anderson

A federal appeals court today said New York Times reporter James Risen is not shielded by reporters’ privilege and must testify whether a former CIA official was a source for his book.

“There is no First Amendment testimonial privilege, absolute or qualified, that protects a reporter from being compelled to testify by the prosecution or the defense in criminal proceedings about criminal conduct that the reporter personally witnessed or participated in, absent a showing of bad faith, harassment, or other such non-legitimate motive, even though the reporter promised confidentiality to his source,” the ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, VA said.

A lower court had blocked the government from asking Risen to confirm that Jeffrey Sterling was a source for his book “State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration.” Sterling has been charged under the Espionage Act, accused of leaking secrets.

In a dissent on the privilege issue, Judge Roger Gregory wrote he found it “sad” that the court had veered from precedent. He continued:

“Under the majority’s articulation of the reporter’s privilege, or lack thereof, absent a showing of bad faith by the government, a reporter can always be compelled against her will to reveal her confidential sources in a criminal trial. The majority exalts the interests of the government while unduly trampling those of the press, and in doing so, severely impinges on the press and the free flow of information in our society. The First Amendment was designed to counteract the very result the majority reaches today.”

Just yesterday, Risen’s lawyer Joel Kurtzberg wrote to the appeals court to say that new Justice Department guidelines on the media exempt from Risen from testifying, NPR reported.

Kurtzberg this morning told the New York Times, “We are disappointed by and disagree with the court’s decision. We are currently evaluating our next steps.”

Steven Aftergood, who writes the Secrecy News blog, wrote this morning that the ruling has “ominous implications for national security reporting.”

He noted that there is “a permanent tension, if not an irreconcilable conflict, between a free press and the operations of national security. The tension can be managed by the exercise of prudent self-restraint on both sides. . . .But the tension can also be exacerbated, as in the present case, perhaps to a breaking point.”

Read the Ruling (PDF) | Bloomberg Story | Aftergood Story | NY Times Story

Reporting tips from a military insider


By SB Anderson

Nolan Peterson

Over at Medill National Security Zone, we’ve launched our latest how-to guide for national security reporters, this one from on a military-insider-turned journalist.

“The military trains for interacting with the press the same way it trains for interrogation and torture as a prisoner of war. And as unfair as it may be, that is the stigma that you as a journalist have to overcome when you approach a member of the military. I shared this skepticism and distrust of the press during my career as an Air Force special operations pilot,” Nolan Peterson writes in his main story.

As he sees it, your challenge as a journalist is to:

  • Overcome the stigma
  • Build rapport
  • Ask intelligent and sophisticated questions
  • Balance producing objective and accurate journalism with the military’s job to protect the American people.

Peterson ia former special operations pilot and a combat veteran with multiple degrees in political science, French and journalism. As a freelance writer, he has covered international affairs and national security and have been published by several national publications. Read his how-to tips.

As it relates to reporters, what does the Pentagon mean by ‘monitor?’


By SB Anderson

The Pentagon Press Association wants some clarity from defense officials on whether journalists’ phone calls are being monitored and in what it says is an “unprecedented step,” sent a letter on Friday seeking that clarity from the defense secretary and chairman of the joint chiefs,  Politico reports.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little last week used “monitor” in a statement  on next steps intended to thwart Pentagon leaks. “The Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Public  Affairs, will monitor all major, national level reporting for unauthorized disclosures of defense  department classified information,” LIttle said. 

Friday’s letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey said, “[T]he phrase ‘monitor all major, national level reporting’ could be interpreted by some as authorizing intrusive actions aimed at members of the news  media who report on defense issues.

“We have received no answers as to specific monitoring authorities,  and ‘reporting’ is much broader than ‘published reports.’ We are asking you to clarify in writing what is meant by ‘monitor all major, national level reporting.’ “

Among the questions asked: 

  • What media do you monitor?
  •  Do you have authority to do the following: 
    • Tap phones at work or home?
    • Intercept or monitor emails?
    • Conduct monitoring or surveillance of Pentagon press workspaces?
  • Are you authorized to monitor phone conversations, emails or press workspaces without our knowledge?

The Pentagon is “reviewing” the letter, Politico says, citing a statement late Friday from Little. “The Department will, of course, review this letter. We have great respect for the Pentagon press corps and its vital role in informing the American people. The key goal of the steps we announced is to ensure that Department officials honor their obligation to protect classified information.”