To disclose or not to disclose ? that is the question. The Valerie Plame affaire (disclosure of her CIA employment) is taking on a new dimension, as Judith Miller, a New York Times journalist, has opted to go to jail rather than disclose her source. Matthew Cooper, a Times Magazine journalist, has decided to disclose his source, after obtaining permission from the source, Karl Rove, a senior advisor to President Bush. The plot thickens with allegations resurfacing of the Bush administration's involvement in retaliation for an OpEd piece in the NYT by Valerie Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson. Besides all the political brouhaha and demands for firing of Karl Rove (link), it does raise an interesting question. Should journalists disclose their sources or not ? And how do organisations support their employees when faced with this dilemma ? It can get pretty sticky when a journalist is an observer of a human rights abuse, and could be cited as witness in order to prosecute the guilty party. But if journalists actually testify, then it would be more convenient to kill them then let them report in a war zone for instance. The BBC has a policy of standing behind the decision of the journalist. An ethical debate with no current clear solution...
Comments