Censored editorial exposed

December 23, 2006

Censored editorial exposed

The New York Times has published the Op-Ed piece that the CIA censored--with the 'incriminating' sections literally blacked out in the print edition.

You can read the full version of "What We Wanted To Tell You About Iran," written by Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann here and you can read The New YorkTimes' statement about the debacle here.

What's particularly interesting is that, as The New YorkTimes puts it, "the deleted portions of the original draft reveal no classified material. These passages go into aspects of American-Iranian relations...(and) have been extensively reported in the news media."

So why did the CIA attempt to keep portions of the opinion piece outside the public domain? I believe that it's far more about public control than public safety. And I believe that related news about the current stifling atmosphere for journalists with integrity is illuminating...

Eureka! More on How Monopoly Papers Cover Monopoly News ( Bruce B. Brugmann, editor/publisher of The San Francisco Bay Guardian)

Television 'news' to warm a PR agents heart (Free Press)

FCC chair schemes to undermine net neutrality (Free Press)

Falsies on Parade: The Worst Spinners of 2006 (Center for Media and Democracy)

The Lobbyist as Reporter: Is This The Future of the Business Press (Slate)

Censor Sensibility: Student journalists face intimidation, stonewalling and censorship on campus (Campus Progress)

On a more positive note--and a worthy celebration of the wonderful role media can play in our lives--Eric Alterman reflects on how writing about race (finally!) emerged during the Civil Rights Era. The media wasn't only objectively covering news about the lives of people who aren't white, but it was actively paving the road to civil rights.

Also MediaChannel offers "On Behalf of Journalism: A Manifesto for Change"

Posted at 08:10 PM in Media, Politics | Permalink

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