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Rove leaking info?

  • 18-07-2005 2:56pm
    #1
    flogen
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I'm sure you've all seen the accusations that Rove leaked information about the identity of a CIA agent to a Journalist which has been going around lately.
    I must first laugh at the statement from Rove's lawyer that he did speak to the journalist about the agent but didn't name her (apparently he said that Joseph Wilsons wife was a CIA agent... how bloody technical can you get?)

    It's been interesting to watch the whole thing as one Journalist (Judith Miller) has gone to jail for not disclosing sources while the other (Cooper) has spoken about his, apparently after the source said it was ok to do so.
    The witholding of sources is a pretty important part of many stories in journalism, if a source doesn't know their identity will be kept secret they may decide not to speak at all. Miller argued that if she was forced to disclose her sources she would be unable to do her job and as a result democracy could suffer. It sounds like a pretty big statement, but it does make sense to some degree.

    Another interesting outcome is just how public all this spin has become. Politicians always use journalists to their advantage when they can (and curse them when they can't), and this whole thing suggests that Rove tried to cover up the points made by Wilson by belittling his trip and suggesting it was just a handy favour his wife set up for him.
    Of course, journalists are willing to use the information because it gives them stories, but you have to question them if they just take what the politician hands them. If that's the case you end up with the media acting as a spokesperson for the government.

    Somewhat related, did anyone catch that C4 documentary before the UK election on Labours campaigning tactics, and how they used the newspapers to their advantage?


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