The local crank strikes again!
Posted elsewhere Saturday, March 15, 2008
Behold the latest in my local crank output! I just sent this silliness into the News-Herald as a response to their terribly annoying editorial today. 300 words is awfully tight but here is how it goes:
In your Saturday, March 15th editorial you issued a “Brickbat” to U.S. District Judge Walton for his requirement that a witness, who happened to be a journalist, tell the truth under oath. Then you call for a shield law that would give federal protection to said sainted profession such that any scribbler would never have to sully themselves with the normal requirements of mere citizens. This is an abomination.
Let us review the case as you did not in your editorial. The reporter in question, Toni Locy, published the name of Dr. Steven Hatfill as being the person of interest in the FBI’s investigation of the anthrax attacks of 2001. These allegations proved to be completely without merit. As Dr. Hatfill worked in the extremely security sensitive field of bio-defence research, this rumor-mongering ruined his career. He is now asking for the names of the sources that Ms. Locy used to write her libel.
As it stands now a judge can compel a journalist to reveal her sources in these extraordinary circumstances. This sort of check on the press’ power brings them in line with the rest of society that must be responsible for their actions. If a shield law is enacted there would be little protection from the damage a willing journalist and an incompetent — or unscrupulous — source could do.
As for the role of the press, this does nothing to restrain journalists from uncovering actual wrongdoing. If Dr. Hatfill were even remotely connected to the deadly anthrax scheme his suit would have no merit and Ms. Locy’s sources would be free from inquiry. As they carelessly put forward an innocent person’s name they should pay for their misdeeds with their jobs or time behind bars. Simply because they used a journalist as a shield should not shelter them from their wrongs.
