'BACKGROUNDERS' ABUSED, SAYS UPI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01314R000300240021-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2004
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: December 19, 1971
• Content Type: NSPR

STAT
ackgrounders'
abused, Says UP!
Approved For Relea W $9YOi? A-RDP88-01314
1 9 DEC 1971
United Press International) material offered at briefings
said yesterday that its news- be on the record and fully at-
men are under instructions to tributable. The New York
Times has told its newsmen to
make it clear to officials that'
"be a lot more selective"
the news agency believes In! about attending background-
the greatest possible identifi- 'ers.
cation of the sources of news. I UPI's
"We think the backgrounder,
has sometimes been abused,"
said Julius Frandsen, UPI1
Washington vice president and
general manager. But heI
added that the agency had to
"cover all the news, however
it may develop,"
Background briefings---at'
which. high government offi-j
cials talk to newsmen on thei
understanding that they will!,
not be identified-came under.
critical scrutiny during the j
past week.
Washington Post reporters
have been told to Insist that!
Frandsen
. "UPI believes in the great-
est possible Identification of
the sources of news. Our re-
porters are under instructions
to make this clear to the offi-
cials with whom they deal, We
think the backgrounder has
sometimes been abused. But
we also recognize an obliga.
tion to our subscribers in this
country and abroad to cover
all the news, however it may
develop. Each problem involv-
ing attribution has to be con-
sidered in light of these some-
times conflicting goals."
Approved For Release 2004/09/03 : CIA-RDP88-01314R000300240021-4