Miller obviously retained a tremendous amount of responsibility for herself. Among other decisions, she decided to discuss the CIA case with administration officials. She also decided — correctly — not to write a story.
She obviously is a controversial figure — not only with the public, but apparently within The New York Times newsroom.
But this much is clear: despite everything else, she did the right thing when she went to great lengths to protect her source. She went to prison until she was absolutely sure that her source would allow her to testify.
In today's super-heated political environment, a reporter must protect a source. Sometimes doing so is popular, as it was in the Watergate era. Sometimes it's less so, as it is with Miller now.
But press freedom is endangered when sources can't trust a reporter.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Tom Honig: Judy Miller Defended Press Freedom
The Santa Cruz Sentinel publishes a defense of Judy Miller:
