Sometimes Leaks Are Fun

I'm sure it's been well read by now, but in case you are one of the few who have yet to read today's piece by Rivkin and Casey in the Washingtion Times, here is your chance.

Here is a key section:

It is entirely plausible that, whatever the recollections of Mr. Russert, Mr. Cooper and Ms. Miller, a journalist did raise Valerie Plame's CIA connections with Mr. Libby -- who simply confused Bob Woodward with Tim Russert, both of whom are prominent Washington media figures. A reasonable jury could certainly reach this conclusion and, at a minimum, the possibility should raise a reasonable doubt in their minds regarding whether Mr. Libby has perjured himself or obstructed justice. Conviction beyond a reasonable doubt has been variously defined, but generally requires an abiding conviction, to a moral certainty, of the truth of the charge. Is it morally certain that Mr. Libby lied, or did he simply not remember correctly?

Today the D.C. media is shocked and confused by Woodward, none more than his co-workers. Mediabistro is posting an internal message board from the Post where journalists discussed Woodward's actions, the effect on the credibility of the modern media, etc...

At least, it started that way. It quickly descends into griping that someone leaked quotes from the message board to the NYT. There is something unsettling about listening to journalists, who relied heavily on leaks to report the Plame afair and have championed leaks as a credible and essential way of practicing journalism, whining about how unfair it is that they can't have a discussion in private.

I'm a real fan of the dialogue unfolding in this space, and I think that its quality will be jeopardized if participants believe that a) their comments may be passed on to outside journalists without their permission or b) our own outstanding media critic may quote from the critiques without permission, or may characterize the dialogue in general terms in his report.

No doubt Debbi Wilgoren, the author of the quote, would scream bloody murder if any non-journalist subject expected that kind of treatment. Perhaps subjects should be allowed to characterize their own statements.

Personally, I think it is a perfectly acceptable practice to publish verified quotes from a story subject. Public or otherwise. What is important about the quote is the magical idea that those in the field of journalism should somehow be exempt from that kind of freedom to report. Above it, if you will.

Scrutiny is always a good thing and there is no institution, in my opinion, that could stand some right now than media.