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August 23, 2006
The captured Press
The New York Times executive editor Bill Keller says that he doesn't know what was in his head at the time he decided, on the eve of the last US Presidential election, to withhold a story on warrantless eavesdropping by the Bush administration. The paper's public editor suggests, diplomatically, that Keller seems to be dissembling, and perhaps he should tell readers more, just in case what was in his head was a reluctance to publish something that might have influenced the election, which is, after all, what great newspapers are supposed to do.
Readers are, predictably, furious. One of them notes:
Mr. Keller’s job — specifically noted in our Constitution as a key safeguard of our democracy — is to provide accurate information to allow informed citizens to vote responsibly for the well-being of our country.Such a safeguard isn't noted in our own democracy. Should it be? And should our newspapers have a public editor?
Posted by cw at August 23, 2006 11:23 AM
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