NEWSMEN AREN'T SPIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: May 3, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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rs~3 Jrf&I i"70,tce, .9r-c,
'WASHINGTON, O.C, 20003
Front Edit Other
Pogo Pu a Page
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.
JOURNAL
_IIAY 31980
EVENING- 3'8, 898'
SUNDAY--49, 089
Nevrsmen-.aren t.spies
The Central ligence per, periodical, radio or.TV net-
Agency annoala in 1976 that work or station."
it would hire no more newsmen. If not, American newspersons
as spies, and we applauded. '_ abroad will lose credibility with
their foreign news sources and
Now Adm. Stansfield Turner, with their American audi-
the CIA director, says the poli- ences.
cy has been modified to permit Foreign correspondents can
h
the use of journalists by t
e . serve their country better by-
agency with the approval of the providing the American people
director. with afull, unbiased, indepen-
This modification should be dent account of foreign affairs
rescinded and the CIA should than by providing a cover for-,
return to the ban on "any paid. espionage.
or contractual relationship with Reporters serve society in an
any full-time or part-time news important role, one they cannot
correspondent accredited by perform with credibility if any,
any U.S. news service, newspa of them become secret. agents.
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c . . . ' 1 . ? . a ~ E ~ . r.,.crrr, . ill.
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I'rC.:: Ec s' O:hor
Pone
RUTLAND, VERMONT
HERALD, MAY 11980
i ORNING 2,1, 500
SUNDAY - 21,500
Admiral Stansfield Turner, ;director of the Central tntelhgence national security since it could only bring about a reduction in the
Agency, created something of a ] coithnotion at a meeting of the. . _ information which this country obtains through, the news media
American Society of Newspaper Editors in Washington last month, about' what is going on in foreign countries;. =Why:.the CIA or, any
when. he said he "would not hesitate" to recruit a journalist fora; other government. agency forthat matter..` would want. to put
covert operation "when it is vitally important to the nation '' restraints oh the free exchange of news with other countries escapes
It may be a sign of the tension of the times thatthe_CIA` director. any reasonable explanation. Why Turner, withthe;; backing of
made such a statement-and was immediately> backed up by President Carter, made such a statement at a time of extreme tension
President Carter-after intelligence : agency,; policy, against' such a in out relations with Iran is equally difficult to,understahd,
practice had been established only. a. few years ago. In 1976, George The: importance.of maintaining out ability "to obtain news from
Bush, the current presidential candidate *ho was then CIA director; ; other countries; was well, -illustrated. by an incident following last
announced regulations stating that the CIA,would not enterf into any weeks ill-fate attempt to rescue American-:hostages in Teheran:
paid relationship with any full-time or part-time news correspondent Following-, the rescue attempt, a goverbinent briefing wi3 held for
accredited by a U. S. newspaper, news agency, periodical, radio or, the benefit of the families of the hostages: Afterward, a member of
television network. one of the families said the briefing was "boring" and that he got
Admiral Turner's statement to the editors amounted",to a more out of the news reports than he did from the government.
wholesale repudiation of the 1976 policy and at the iimeii- time served a The incident, served ash a good example of the probability that
notice to any enemy or potential enemy, inimical to'this eountry that newsmen who are left alone topursue their work in foreign countries
the hunting season is open on newsmen.. CIA repudiation of the perform a more useful function from the standpoint of the national
policy against employing newsmen had the immediate effect of and .international interest than they would as paid undercover
justifying expulsion of correspondents from Iran and any other agents.
country unfriendly to the United. State3 ;on the ground that Beyond that, newsgathering by foreign, correspondents is already
American journalists either are spies or are suspected of being spies.-hazardous. enough without having the;director of.the CIA announce
Neither the change in policy or{Turner's announcement of the to the world that some U., S. corresondents.may be agents in the
change "could possibly serve any useful purpose in the cause of pay of the American government: .'
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WASH t GTOY t, D,-?
Front _ @d t Other
PHILADELTt{IA, PA.
p, U1,t.ETIN
EVENING - 536,330
SUNDAY -- 643,357
APR 3 0 1980
~urn~lists 5hou
Vie thought at one: time the question
of the: Central Intelligence AgencTus-
ing? journalists as agents -- had been.
settled" in, the public nterest - by the,
--
group, however,_.there area few who
will take the bait and muddy the wa-
ters for the rest' Beyond that, the fact
that'the CIA is known to countenance
ed shadow.over journalism:
When Mr: Carter appointed Admiral
.+ - -
left by. CJeorge tjusn; Lnen -LGC..uI vcv ,.. u, : U1 V 1"1Y a..J > - -
the agency, in 1976.- He issued a flat ' - priority from such,-a double agent, his Turner in 1977 he asked his appointee
prohibition on hiring' newsmen or put- responsibility, to report -the news or for assurances that he would conduct
ting. them under contract and on send- serve the government? Finally, how the CIA "strictly in accordance with
ing agents out under ",cover" of being a would such a journalist report on the the law and with American values."
journalist. CIA_ itself; an agency frequently in Admiral Turner's policy, which has,,
been
need"of investigative coverage?', 'su ported.b" President Carter, is.
Now' CI?-' director Stansfield.Turnert ` ask can't` ournalists take a danger to the press whose first re-
sai~he reived that worthy rule on You may j
three occasions and- "wouldn't hesi- care of the problem merely by refusing sponsibility is to report the news to the
tate" to waive it again if he felt the to work for the- CIA? Certainly, they .,American public in straight-front the-
houlder fashion
l
i
`
_s
ona
situation was "unusual" enough to re- should. In- any* large profess
quire it. It turned out that none >of the
agents; but the CIA had been prepared,'
to use them < . # t ..
with the American- Society of Newspa
per. Editors earlier , this, month, said he,
c
-
could see nothing amiss with-the pra
tion you make ,between-serving your
country and being free," he told.the ed=
1; 1. 4;nl
itors. ".You can do both.
Well, we - don't' understand howl.
admiral-can fail to understand' whys,
he approves the practice creates se->
rious problems.:
The. role of the journalist as the pu
acs eyes and ears abroad`isdifficult
enough these days in many parts of the
:trust and even danger of being suspect
Then there is the-inevitable problem
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rs estww
o,-qu
reporters=.as agents
At ne point in the recent convention of ,independent seekers of information which
the American Society of Newspaper Edi- they communicate to the public..."
tors in Washington, the sound of am-egg In a memo to client newspapers, H. L.
hitting the fan figuratively=could be Stevenson editor-in-chief of-the world
heard. - wide United Press International news ser-
It came when Adm. StansfieldTurner, vice, said," UPI's policy forbids the volun-
the director of the'Central Intelligence teering of information or working for.the
Agency, told a crowded session ofthe.,., CIA, FBI oeany other government intelli-
paper editors,. that ; .
under certain "very"",:,
exceptional'"circum
stances, 'he would,
approve rectuting? a ,
newsmanas CIA '~
agent: 4 an x,
In fact,. he said, he
had done Won three
occasionsi in'..the.
three. years ..since
w,.
President -Carter
named him director.
of Central ~ Intelli=
4r President, Carter, in a conference with a.
Sterling ,
Na loprnallsts,-presently are employed
CIALagents and there are no current'
1ansto use any Turner said . '
lButh e added, "'What if we: have a ter t
1r rist situation and the only way to gain';
"situation wherein' the real security of the
iuted States is involved I think a
gence. As it happened, he added, J>z_-noner
of the three instances had circumstances
;Patriotism isn't the point.- The credibili-
cruited for" ,. 4a _ st ret operative of any. agency but his
Splat!" .. e'.,' own news employer .- especially, not of a
One of the first editors on his feetinthe- government agency, and even more espe-
following:question` period was A. M. Ro- cially not of: a government intelligence
senthal, who as executive editor of the agency, valuable though thatagency
the.safetyand integrity of one of-the big- ;r *? The-work. of American reporters and;
.American newspaperdom. difficult enough_,without the added hand=
"Do 'you.-think' it's worthwhile to cast, icap of. their government's. spy, chief hav-
into dbubt'tlie.-ethicat and professional ingannounced that one of them just might
position of every, foreign correspondent?'.' be a secret agent.
Rosenthal asked. "This endangers'-. -not'. . I`do recognize - as some of my fellow
only the ethics of our work but the physi- editors do not - that the stated policy of
cal existence of our foreign correspond- the CIA director in some' cases, nay be
ents." beside the point. In all too many: countries,
Rosenthal was-echoed by several other.' the=press is totally controlled by the gov-
perhaps embarrassed. by their surprise, to o overnment tools, of .both ?
learn that? Turner three years-fagowhad t 11such: a country, all the denials of the
altered the#policy.which had 'been,'an dt torof Central Intelligence might well
nounced bjhis predecessor as CIS:chief, ``no 'be worth- the?paper. to write then
the current presidential candidate:.George. down on. Foreign correspondents are like-
Bush. F.. ,, ~4 y
~l ltd' be assumed- to be spies because the
Bush had' declared that it:was"CrA poll t locaT* .can- hardly conceive that they
cy never to use an American newsman as wodn't. be. Besides, if the head of the
an agent, although he did not rule out R scan KGB were to solemnly declare
recruiting news stringers of foreign na ; tha rthe Soviet-reorters is the United
tionality. Sta es are: free and independentof the
Later, in: an editorial; the.New..York '.-ma
Times stated the position which i think- rea
most (but not all) United States editors fro
would share:,. cie:
"We-argue from the premise that free~'cruit
r that `most' foreign correspondents,
e they, must not accept commissions
the CIA or other government agen-
greater -value. than any occasional intelff ularldituation might be, it is the reporter's
gence?mission. American reporters cannot-, duty to his readers to~ turn down the re-
long function-abroad if forced to operate ;; quest
be what they'tepresent themselvesto
c~55 a 1,,d tgenCe.9 _91t6-
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20005
front Edit ,. Other
Page Page(' page
PORTLAND, OREGON
OREGON JOURNAL
EV Kq - 1061418
APR 2 f 1980
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New CIA charte'r, shc~u1d prohi;bit
the use of journalists as spie
S
THE controversial issue of existing. relationships of, this , In recent weeks, Congress
the use of journalists as in- sort. has been conducting hearings
telligence agents is back in on the drafting of a proposed
the news again, as.a. result of As . recently as, November, - -charter for the CIA. Not only.
`comments by Adm: Stansfield. 1977 ; Turner himself- issued a ---should the regulations prohib-
Turner,, . the. director-; of: the lengthy sons, regulations re-` 1tirg the use of. journalists as
Central Intelligence Agency iterating the ban. on using = intelligence agents- be in-
(CIA)I, at the recent meeting journalists' and also; prohibit corporated into that charter,,
of the American' `Society of 36=ing the 'CIA from using,='the ?'-'there 'should be no provision:
Newspaper Editors -in-Wash namernr:facilities of anv'I>_S_. for, any, exceptions.
ington, - ~.- .E
news-.orgiinization as 'a cov
er";for agency activities
editors'that he "would not
One of the principal roles of
the press is to maintain scniti-.
; ny of government. If it's to do'
f
t se
tion
r
la
th
v
,
s
c
o
e
e
hesitate" to recruit a journal- owe
those regulations said: there this the press must be entire
ist for' a covert operation - 1 independent of government.
would' be no exceptions toy the ~ Y g
when it is vitally?importantt_,~,*'dhibitions except'with'the-` The use.- by.-the CIA, of any
to the nation."
rovaIa of the CIA journalists as agents casts
IM cific ; a
pp
;sp
This would"seem toput the director. And' there were..
those
issue right back where it was who.: warned at the time
before 1976, when Georgethat this last sentence negated
Bush, then the CIA chief an- all the other provisions of the
regulations.
nounced regulations stating
that
that the agency would not en-
ter into any paid relationship-,
suspicion on all journalists
and raises the possibility that
one of them may be a spy
In a foreign country, who
would talk confidentially to an
in. the_lightaf Turner's re- American- reporter . if there.
was any possibility that 'the
with any full-time or part- - i cent -comments, it now ap- reporter was a CIA-,agent?
time journalist and, as soon-as .,,., pears those doubters were And who would believe what
feasible, would terminate any. right.:
G L 3 .J."ZfSLE[gencej inc.
VIASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
Front Edi~ Other
Page P4gs Page
HUNTINGTON, W.VA.
HERALD-DISPATCH
APR 2 2 1980
MORNING 43,0107
SUNDAY -- 50,287
reporters would write if there
was a possibility that their ar-
ticles were strictly CIA propa-
ganda or, at any rate,, based
on information "planted" by
the government?
Indeed, ; the CIA's recruit-'
ment of journalists as in-:
telligence agents could
endanger the lives of all U.S.
journalists abroad if some for-
eign government , suspected
that they were intelligence op
eratives and not really foreign
correspondents..
For these reasons, .it should
be obvious that the CIS' and
the press need _to keep.~,each
other at arm's length
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CIA end journalism don't mix
By John R. inurw:ul The editor's notebook
Executive Editor
It was, clear from the question and answer'- that the probability of a damaging leak of se-
session that the editors and the director of the cret information is geometrically proportional
Central Intelligence Agency were not communi- to the number of people who know it."
eating well.
The director announced he
had. returned to an old CIA
policy of using newsmen as
sources for information over-
seas as well as allowing CIA
agents-to pose as newsmen.
One z thing that,,,- bothered He is asking that Congress amend current
newsmen. was that he had re- ;., law requiring the CIA to notify seven commit-
turne&.to' the policy three tees of proposed covert- or secret. actions.
years ago and: most editors -. Turner wants to cut the number to the two CIA
lax
missed.the switch. ' oversight committees.
~. .:
t ne. uwer, thing that uutn ,; mow.; ~.~..^
eyed newsmen was that Admi- Finnegan He also- wants "limited relief" from the Free-`
ral Stanfield Turner, the CIA head, seemed to dom of Information Act under which the public
have no, understanding of the reasons why jourcan ask for data concerning CIA operations. He
nalists object to being used by the intelligence claims that foreign governments are reluctant
to provide the CIA with names of informants
agency. for fear the names will be released under the
The occasion for this encounter was the con- FOI act. They want a guarantee that no names
vention of the American-Society of Newspaper will ever be revealed. The argument is that for-
Editors in Washington, D.C., 10 days ago. -. eign governments think the lives of their agents
Turner. was there to explain the "new look" of or informants could be jeopardized. his agency and to get support for proposals
pending before Congress.. No names have ever-been released under the
He said the CIA has been more open in its' FOIA, Turner admitted. But there is a "percep-
He tion" abroad that our courts might permit re-
operations since 1975. "We are on the front pag- lease under the law. "
es all the time. The result is that today the in-
telligence profession must adapt so that itcan Admiral Turner, understandably, does not
be more open with the public, yet control that want to jeopardize those sources.
openness so that we can still do our job effec- But Turner does not understand the journal-
tively_7 ists' opposition to his policy of using newsmen, and women as CIA sources abroad which also
Some editors took that to mean
could jeopardize their lives. True, he said that it
wants to be open on its terms only and, as one would be a "unique case" when he would ap-
editor commented, "What's new about that? proach a journalist and seek assistance in infor-
The openness policy -bas bas four dimensions, mation gathering. True, he said it would be a--
t i
t
a
t
CIA
f
"
"
n
o
was sen
agen
unique case
i
a
Turner said, including impact on internal oper-
rt
er.
ations and organization; work with the rest. of terrorist organization posing as a repo
and, dealings with the public and the media.
mere fact the CIA would, use journalists to do
Internally, the agency, is moving toward-W- its-,work undermines= their - integrity . as inde-.
"more corporate" structure which he describes pendent newspeople and could put their lives in
as being, more consultative, more collegial and.;, peril in foreign countries . ~'
"better organized for long range decision.
?He expressed surprise "at the assumption
makinlt."''~ that you are no longer free ifyou have a rela
He uses legal counsel more today, he said.: He. _ tionship with us. I think. you can serve your
tries to keep more key people in the agency country and still be free."
informed of overall decisions.
"The disadvantage... is that as you Increase",, He was absolutely blind to the' problem
the number of those who know about a secret American editors were emphasizing that any
activity, you also increase the level of risk that .: -bolt of attachment of journalists to the CIA
ty, y makes them appear as arms of the government
that activity will be compromised," he said
and purveyors of propaganda.
_ s..:
As for relations with the executive branch;_
He could see the fears of foreign govern-?
there are more intimate ties with policymakers . mm ip ematQ hiA was nnun linty to o a ss a the nrnhlamc
ff
and their deliberation. rWe can be mmaua e
e - by American newspeople.
posed tive in providing the data which they (the, Na-
tional Security Council) deed if we know what - In any case, he is following bail public py ' cy,
their concerns really are. A minus, however,, is- winch I hope American journalists will reject-,
There is greater interplay with Congress,
1. Turner said, which "helps us to keep in touch
with the public, and helps us to understand what
is expected." The primary disadvantage is "the
danger of leaks. In terms of leaks, Congress is
no better or worse than the executive branch."
/2 .i j.i tez:.cn~ence, -ac.
WASHINGTON, D.C.20003
Front Edit Other
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ST. PAUL, MINN
PIONEER PRESS
MORNING - 100,502
SUNDAY - 244,261
APR 2 0 1980
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MORNING - 54,544
SiJi1DA: ? 59,.148-
ill .114
Reporters As Spies?
CIA Director.Stansfield Turner stirred up an
old controversy last week with his assertion to a
convention of newspaper editors that the CIA has
used journalists for intelligence purposes on at
least three,occasions and would continue to do so.
The policy is a mistake.
Mr. Turner's argument, which President Cart-
er apparently accepts, is that if the national securi-
ty requires reporters to become spies, then they
ought to do so:
The argument sounds plausible but really isn't.
{ It assumes, for instance, that U.S. journalists are
always welcome in most foreign countries.. The as-
sumption is false; in a-Communist country, a re-
porter would be foolish to risk contracting, to pro-
vide information to the CIA. He would immediately
assume a risk of impfisVment? or,, at least;; expul-
sion. Moreover,.,such activity would make it much
I harder for his successor, not to mention his, col-
(leagues,. to continue providing news about the coun-
try to their readers back home. The CIA, of course,
gleans considerable information from stories filed
Worse, the CIA's campaign to recruit journal-
ists as part-time spies damages the essential role of
the press as envisioned by the country's founders.
That role is necessarily one of independence from
government, no matter how well-intentioned an
agency's appeal might be in terms of, say, the na-
tional interest. That does not mean, of course, that
a journalist has absolutely no responsibilities as a
citizen. It does mean, however, that a journalist
who volunteers to be a spy destroys his own credi-
bility. More to the point, how does such a policy dif-
ferentiate the U.S. from more restrictive societies
where the press is often viewed as an arm of
government?
It is fraudulent for Mr. Turner or even the. pre-
sident to suggest the issue turns on. the question of.a
reporter's "patriotism It is,.rather, the question
of how a reporter is expected to fulfill- his responsi-
bility .of informing the public if thelatter has reason
to question his credibility because of a government.
spy, assignment. The CIA ought to inter its policy.
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EVENING - 152,367
APR 18 1980
`The corrupting han
Central Intelligence Agency, betrayed a Most- news organizations, needless t lack of understanding of the C le in a say, are opposed - as we are - to ,an
free society when hesaid he had attempt to harness the. free ? press to the
approved the use or.:jouinalists in"intelli- ` purposes of the state. Any such exercise
gence operations andwould not. hesitate to would compromise the independence of the
do so again. press, generate suspicion in the eyes of the
"Speaking to thef-American Society of public and make it difficult for the press.to
Newspaper Editors; Turner said that in keep the confidence of its sources.:
three, separate instances- he had personally A. M. Rosenthal,' executive editor of the
approved the use of journalists for secret New York Times, put it well when he told
intelligence activities: ut none had actually Turner: "You have put into question the
been. used. Turner--also said he had no real purpose, of American correspondents
current plans for involving journalists but and you have cast doubt on. the ethical
that, if he felt- a particular- situation _ jus= position of every American correspondent
tified their use, "I wouldn't hesitate." abroad."' 7
Nor is: journalism the only profession;', The work of foreign correspondents
Turner made clear, which might be used as and of ministers, missionaries and
a cover for CIA activity. ".`We fully share,'.' . educators who work abroad - is dangerous.
he said,. "the recognition that journalism,..; enough. without Turner adding new risks
religion and academia have a -:
special place ~ and liabilities <
in: our country. At.,..the same -time,-,we-.- It is. bad enough, that Turner has consid-
recognize that there maybe unusual ered the use of these.: professions in, thcumstances in. which a& individual who is past.'But what is worse is that he still sees
also a member of one of -those professions nothing wrong with it and would engage in
may be used as an agent."','-",' {;f_such practices if, in his opinion, the situa-
-Apparently surprised .by the negative tion justifiedit.
reactions of the. editors. who heard his Probably only .the President can over-
remarks, Turner said 94I?don't,understand rule Turner's wrongheadedness, and he
,why you think if you accept an assignment . : should do so at once.
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~/p
/Z?J! ,! tno j!IICCJ JlC?
VJAS NGTON. D.C. 2000S
Front if Other
Page P ge Page
PHOENIX, ARIZONA
REPUBLIC
MORNING-219, 587
SUNDAY--331,129,
C IA DIRECTOR Stanfield Turner says he
can't understand why news organizations
;are- so opposed to his plan_ to use foreign
correspondents..to gather intelligence for the
agency whenever he and the president consider.
it necessary.
lie got into a heated argument over this at
the recent meeting of the-.American Society.of
Newspaper Editors with several newspaper
executives, including A. M. Rosenthal, execu-
tive editor of The New York Times and a
,Pulitzer Prize-winning former foreign corre-
spondent himself.
and particularly when he was reporting frdm
Eastern Europe. ?.-
.
There's nothing wrong with it.
An obvious problem arises, however,, when',.
The CIA` puts correspondents on. the payroll, as
the agency-. formerly did. They then begin,
serving two masters, and this can have perfectly
outrageous results.
In the past, for example, the CIA sometimes-
used correspondents on its payroll to spread
misinformation, known as "black propaganda."
In doing so, it not only subverted the press, it
"What you are saying is that if you accept an committed a crime against the public
assignment from me to get some information Another obvious difficulty arises when CIA
that can be very vital to. our country, that you directors talk about using correspondents to
have lost your freedom," Turner declared. collect intelligence. Such talk instantly puts
"I'm sorry. I don't understand the connection ' every American correspondent overseas under a
that you make between serving your country cloud_
and being free. I think you can do both." Every, correspondent becomes a suspected
Previous CIA directors have gotten into the CIA agent. This inevitably makes his work
same argumenth the ASNE that Turner- did more difficult by choking off his sources.
without reaching any resolution,` and the reason The result-, is -less information for both the
They prefer to speak in lofty terms about a
free press, independent of- the government; on
the one hand, and patriotism on the other.
The reality is that American reporters
overseas frequently swap information with CIA
agents on a purely informal basis, just as
Washington correspondents covering a congres-
sional investigation frequently swap informa-;-
tion ,with the investigators, and just as police.
reporters swap information with the police.
We'11 bet dollars to doughnuts that Rosenthal--
followed this practice when. he, was-overseas;
American public and the CIA.
Turner and his successors would do well.-.
simply to =let nature take its -course. They.--,
shouldn't. put correspondents on the CIA
payroll, and they shouldn't talk about using
correspondents.
The 'correspondents will continue to swap
information with the CIA because it serves their.]
professional interests. And, if they learn
anything they consider of. vital importance to
national 'security, they'll .let the CIA know
'
about it.:
After all, they are Americans.
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.:orr #QiT vr.^.er
Papa Pc, , Pcen
WHEELING, ',V.VA.
N~'/S-REGISTER
APB J 1S80
EVENING -23,417
SUNDAY -- 63,140
~ur.~a~~sts
.As'-
CIA Agents
CIA DIRECTOR Stansfield professional position of every
Turner had delivered a rather foreign correspondent?"
routine address on the operations Director Turner said it would
of the Central Intelligence be "naive" to think that a foreign
Agency last week before a Von government. would assume that
vention of the American Newspa- journalists of any nationality are
per Society in- Washington when free of association with intellig-
the time for questions al-rived. ence agencies. He said he would
An editor asked Director Turner be ashamed if he needed a law to
now he felt about allowing the protect his ethical reputation.
spy agency. to use American
foreign correspondents, a prac-
tice halted 'when. George- Bush
was CIA director and in the
midst of a public outcry.
Mr. Turner dropped a bombsh-
ell on the assembled journalists
when he said that he had changed
the policy to allow the use of
newsmen-for secret intelligence
operations only in specific
instances and only with his per-
sonal approval.
The editors were dismayed and
shocked for they were under the
impression that CIA regulations
still barred the use of American
journalists as agents. They said
that they had been unaware that
current regulations allowed
exceptions to be made with the
specific approval of the director
of the CIA.
We are sorry indeed that the
head of our Central Intelligence
Agency today does not uAder-
stand the importance of keeping
our journalists free of the slight-
est taint of becoming involved in
a spying mission. When the CIA
ties with journalists were dis-
closed several years ago, report-
ers. felt this endangered not only
the ethics of their work but the
physical existence of foreign cor-
respondents, especially those
covering not so friendly nations.
Although Director Turner says
that no American journalists cur-
rently are working undercover!
for the. CIA, there had been three
instances when he had approved
use of correspondents in CIA
operations but' plans did not
materialize. Nevertheless, the
very fact that he is now on public
A.N. Rosenthal, executive record stating that the CIA is
editor of'? The New York Times, free to utilize newsmen for
immediately was i on his feet,, spying has harmed all journalists
stating: "You have put into ques- working abroad. Such practice
tion the real purposes of Ameri- violates the traditional independ-
can foreign correspondents, and ence of the press from govern-
you have cast doubt on the ment and makes it difficult for
ethical position of every Ameri other journalists to retain the
can correspondent abroad." trust of their sources. For exam
CIA Director Turner, 'a former ple, in a country like Iran, the.
admiral in the U.S. Navy, possibility that a foreign corre-
seemed unshaken in his position. spondent was a CIA agent cer=
He said that while he fully shares tainly would endanger his life.
the recognition of journalism, The use of journalists as intel=
religion and academia to have a ligence agents has long been a
special importance to our- coun- sensitive subject with news orga-
try, at the same time he recog- nizations in this country. As.with
nized there. may, be unusual cir- most editors, we. thought this
cumstances in which an issue had been well debated and
individual who is also, a member buried and we are appalled to I
of one of those- professions may learn that it has been revived
be used as an agent. under the Carter Administration.
Editor Rosenthal shot back, This is a - serious matter that
"Do you think it's worthwhile... to deserves the attention of the
cast into doubt the ethical and President and the Congress.
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QUINCY, MASS.
PATRIOT LEDGER
NPR 15 1980
EVENING ,..75,105
The CIA and the., press
Stansfield Turner's remarks to the:, press their displeasure at some policy
effect that he doesn't see anything of the West, they often harass or expel
wrong with his Central.Iigence Western journalists-often on'
Agenc using journalists for in charges of spying.
fe !gene purposes is damaging to , Statements such as CIA Director
American newsmen working abroadsr Turner's-made last week to an edi-
and
to Americans at home who rely on tors' conference in Washington-can
them for information. a only further confirm the suspicions of
It would be naive to .hunk Shat ~; foreign governments that- U.S. Jour-
newsmen and CIA"agents have:-no' nalists double as CIA spies-and sub-
contact-at all. Journal sts and CIA ject U S; newsmen to `close scrutiny.
agents. can and have been mutually When this happens, it. becomes more
useful to each other by trading , what difficult, for, the journalist to report
bth dl iifi And
oean-normaton. in accurately .and completely, for his
some foreign posts, particularly those access,, to. news sources and to in-
with small U.S.'diplomatic missions? L...
formation 'becomes restricted. .How
it is virtually impossible for either not frankly would you talk to a reporter if
to have contact with the other f ~t .you suspected he was a CIA agent? Or.
But there is a:world ofdifference as a reader,' how much credence
between a professional relationship ur ',would you put, iii his reports?
man is dealing with the CIA person as The; American 'overseas press,' to
a government news:source, with the preserve its"credibility and its pro-
fessional ' standards, should be on
reserve and ske
ticism that im
li
p
p
es
,
i rd
and a situation in which-the'CIA has against CIA efforts to subvert
an arrangement with the newsman to news-gathering. }
furnish the agency with information Some foreign .governments may
using him as an intelligence source or never come around to accept journal-
-
istsasobjective gatherers ofinforma
as a middleman irrmaking.contact=
with potential intelligence sources. , tiort, rather-than someone ,seeking to-
That kind of arrangement should ' pry into their. innermost secrets, or at
be abandoned byX .the: CIA. both. in -best a biased observer trying to make`
practice and as Inatter of public them look bad.
policy, for it makes :;,a. . newsmen ld ti But evefy time ourintelligence-
and increases the. riskthat they, like may use journalists-, in secret in-
Ameri can diplomats, will become F telligence work; it, makes the task of
used. as pawns .in international poli- .. overseas reporters that much more
tics. - It also violates< the traditional difficult. And ;that: ultimately affects
independence of the press from the - the quality-and' accuracy of the news
government and makes it. more di!- -- reports to the American public-.,-'.
ficult for. journalists to retainthe trust
of their sources.
In a number of other countries The Patriot Ledger welcomes expressions -
ti 'of* pinions by our readers. Letter`s should be
especially in secu ity-conscious Easter factyaL temperate in language. and as brief
ern Europe and .the Soviet: Union, as possible: Mare subject to editing for style
whose governments: often: use'their'and readability, and to condensation. Letters
should contain the author's name, valid ad-
journalists? as intelligence-gatherers dress and telephone number to aid in: veri-
-Western newsmen are egardeid.as flcatlei. No anonymous letters, pen names or
foreign agents. Wljen? Russia or East initials are accceptable. Poetry or copies of
.. ?1./lwwe cwwf fw fLinl n~rliwc. Will nw# hw
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Front Edit Other
:`.'A9z11NGTON. D.C. 2000r
Pace
MIN,P IIS, TENNESSEE
COMMERICAL APPEAL
1110RNING - 205 , 452
SUNDAY -- 283,622
arter Should Know Better
~
THE FAILURE of Adm. Stansfield Turner, di-
rector of the Central Intelligence Agency, to under-
stand why the nations newspaper editors object to
any attempt by the CIA to recruit news reporters as
secret agents w0rdhse for concern.
Still, given his military background with its
emphasis on discipline and patriotism and the his-
tory of the clandestine agency he heads; his atti-
tude could be explained even if it could not be
accepted by the editors who heard him at the annu-
al meeting of the American Society of Newspaper
Editors in Washington last week.
But now Turner's position on this question has
been given the enthusiastic endorsement of Presi-
dent Carter. That is real cause for concern, for
although the President, too, was Navy educated, he
has had many years of experience in civilian gov-
ernment service and as President is supposed to
understand and uphold all aspects of the Constitu-
tion for the people. He should know better than
Turner the pitfalls of the policy he so heartily
.approves.
Referring to Turner's statements before the
editors, Carter said over the weekend that "in a
rapidly changing international situation, where on
occasion our nation's own security or existence
might be threatened, we do not want to publicly
foreclose the option of taking certain action that
might be necessary." ?
THE PRESIDENT makes it appear the press is
unpatriotic if it is unwilling to allow its members to
be recruited for CIA secret agent work while con-
tinuing to pose as journalists. That is far from the
.truth. Rather, it is that the press regards its patriot-
ic duty to be. the preservation of freedom of the
press. And that .freedom cannot be preserved if
members of the press are to do double duty, as
Turner and the President indicate they should be
willing to do.
Once even a single member of the press is
.known to have been recruited as a CIA agent, the
effectiveness of the entire American press is handi-
capped. The sources which now are willing to pro-
vide information to the members of the news me-
dia, because they trust them, will refuse to provide
that information, even to those journalists who
have not been corrupted by affiliation with the CIA
or other secret intelligence agency. They all will be
suspect. And the result, it must be stated again, will
be that the people of this nation will know less and
less about what is going on.
The American press has been fighting for
years to maintain its ability to report and distribute
unbiased news worldwide, despite the strong ef-
forts of some Third-World and Communist nations
to use the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to control
that flow of news. It has be n m ately success.
ful in that struggle up to now, but what chance does
it have if it accedes to the idea of American journal-
ists using their writing positions as a cover for CIA
work? Who will believe that a CIA agent posing as a
reporter can deliver unbiased news? Do we accept
the reports of Communist nations' reporters as
truth? Of course not. We recognize their reports as
part of their government's propaganda. We cannot
afford to allow our press to become victims of that
same sort of system.
Turner, in speaking to the editors last week,
deplored the requirements of the Freedom of Infor-
mation Act which have given foreign nations -
even Communist nations - access to this nation's
files. He suggested revision of the act to.protect
agencies such as the CIA from such probes. What he
was asking for again was the right of agencies such
as the CIA to have their own secret sources of
information, to gather and hold and use whatever
they regard as proper information. Yet, by asking
also the right to recruit journalists to be his agents,
Turner - and now presumably the President, too
- suggests that the nation's press should not have
the right to gather and use information indepen.
dently. Turner and the President should be consis-
tent. And to be consistent they must recognize and
uphold the right of the press to refuse to do double
duty regardless of the international situation the
nation faces.
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The CIA's. Us+e , Ot .1
American Reporters
Should an American newspaperman ever report back his
findings to the Central Intelligence Agency?
The reverse happens all the time. CIA -men in American
embassies overseas - the open ones, that is - are among
the best information sources available to correspondents
about developments in the countries where they, are sta-
tioned.
They are well informed and particularly useful in'provid-
ing background to a. correspondent who may be in a, coun-
try for only a short-time.
Good Journalists tap this knowledge,;, but; doublecheck
their informationa3Lthey :would with any.other?.source,.and,
.But_ what.about= journalists'-giving back Information in
"Never for money" " ,was the-guideline suggested here two
years : ago.. by ; three foreign-correspondents attending,. a
University of Hawaii Round Table on Asian' News, spon-
sored by the Gannett Fellowship Program. r
Keyes Beech, now of- the Los Angeles Times Dennis
Bloodworth.of -the. London Observer, and Richard Halloran
of the- New,,York_,Times,.all said.:they_talk.to.intelligence
agents overseas,, even exchange information with them, but
would consider .at:prostitution - to- accept., paid CIA assign
Beech termed-.-&s relations with overseas: agents 'mufti
ally beneficial."'
All of this bears on a new flap among journalists over an
amendment to the 1976 CIA policy that it would not use full
tune or part time U-.S. journalists, paid or. _unpaid;:.far.. intel-'
- At the end of--.2977,-thee new; CIA rdirector,-StansfieldTurn-":"
er, amended- this policy to permit exceptions with the,
specific approval- of` the CIA: director.
Under this ;intendment, he told the American Society of
Newspaper Editors, three :assignments for:. newsmen were
approved by him,- but never carried out because of changed
Turner defended the policy. He said he seerno harm in a
newsman helping- his government secure` important infor-
mation,: so?'lont'a"s he remains. ethical and honest in what
he-reports to his `journalistic .audience
President: Carter' later backed, Turner, and Lindicated...the
exceptions -a]so had been>cleared with hint:
A number of3American newspapers tend to- fear any con-
tact with the. CIA will tarnish their reputation for .integrity
and indePendence:~"~
Honolulu, HI
(Honolulu Co.)
Star.Rulletin
(CI r- 6xW. 117, 989)
APR .~ 5 1980
atten s P.
C. B '788
and that no matter what. we say or do. most foreigners will.
be.-suspicious anyway.that newsmen are sometimes.;
spies." . 4pu~ . _. tv ua' 3 pa> tb. uvax iw.;:
This-will displease- some of our Journalistic brethren but...
we think the aliowanceof.exceptions specifically approved -;
at-the highest levels of- government is reasonable if frugally,
exercised: a '".
The dosses to; journalism wffl hardly be as a great as al-
leged..The gain to ; the nation presumably could. be signifi-
cant or else the exception shouldn't be approved:.
Ethical.' writ ng and. reporting .still remains, the respon
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Honolulu - I I
(Honolulu Co.)
(Cir. 6%W? 77,597)
thelmo$t UflfnriinlatE re-- being agents of the U.S ``govern-
__
g
,
IA N
h
e
a c
a+
sults of - current:. moves-to "unsnscx--a meat, especially the C
-7. T -Alit
f
- YCgwlac .-. , ,_
is reinaval of th Dan on use. o
Americajournlists as spies ' , , i Hof:` a~~~~
Witlt:Iran,Afglianistila and :otli r ' :But the absence of'any rule= and
policy failures fueling a sort Audacious. statement like: Turner
foreign
.
of hyiteria~,about=Al' erica' .ability cast; into suspicion all American
ke
`
I
o
b
s
ma
t.
ad.:
r
to cobduct.;coverDbpetations (even orrespogdeuts a
thougb: better, mtalligence eollectiwnn e~ur jobtr of :honestly gathering news
and anaiysis=would bit snore:atsc.eiu11? ore dilftoult Indeed, in sorme
CLA
a
f
. .
-._v Rr---- -
o
plans
it. regsetari& ger for. no good reason;-It 'also..'
ed With
rirtually scrapp
. bly. went. a battcon CIA` use of acs erundermines the concept of press
lft Tbis? is something Turner and peo
IN 1918 AFTER - investigations le- lire him do. not seem to _under
,
blic outcry Over-CIA- 'ex-standor accept.. He does not see why
and pu
George Bush journalists should refuse to work for
dizeetor
h
,
en
t
ceases, issued regulations prohibiting Use- Of,', tthe .CIA,, or why. outer journalists
e
broa
_: ?- ,
__- , ,~
American tees ap
stations 1$ secret operations It was ents'_ai a patriotic enough to do this
"
h
~' as a said
~rstood' CIA agents :would ,M.C sisCthe CIA),
also
l
sts. :-' - ---- ---
ourOal
'tton -Presumably in the name, of pa
Daaielw.Altouye
toe"
i
977
`
S
,
:
et
a
,
lr< 1
. who then chaired.. the Senate.Intelli- '',triotism, many- journalists have m
.
ver
y
. a __ - f r - ?- i
5ociety'O~ Newspaper. r uswa a wao- e
the future'the~`'CIA. would' hav!Jo f *nd planting misinformation'.'
le iri the overthrow of
a
i
tio
ro
ns # play
ng-
'paid or. Cobt~t.aetual !; rela
"
with'a ~ccredited U.S?corre the~ele ed`government of Chile:;~s ,
ver
t
h
a
e
w
spondents abroad. But' those were exceptions " and i
The argument. then war:: whethhe revers jo alistic attitudes that toter
the CIA ?:would',be. allowed'' to :use-" 'ated such- abuses have changed
4 4. even foreign Abu!t~al3sts.-S ?, s~"?3 6 e . Qr the, better ":. a. `_ w. `
in Washington'last-wee l