March 7, 2005

 

THE NEW YORK TIMES WINS

 

THE NEWSPAPER GUILD HERBERT BLOCK

 

FREEDOM AWARD

The Newspaper Guild-CWA has announced that it will honor the men and women of The New York Times with The Newspaper Guild Herbert Block Freedom Award.  The publication’s staff was chosen as this year’s recipient in recognition of their fight to uphold the principle of news source confidentiality.

In the past year, the confidential sources of four Times journalists, Judith Miller, Philip Shenon, Jeff Gerth, and James Risen, have been sought through subpoenas, and three have been subject to court sanctions.  Ms. Miller was subpoenaed to testify about a conversation she had with a confidential source regarding Valerie Plame, an undercover CIA agent whose identity was reportedly leaked by senior Administration officials.  She has been held in contempt for not complying.

In addition, the phone records of Ms. Miller and Times reporter Philip Shenon were subpoenaed by the government to identify their confidential sources in a case involving leaks about government activities against two Islamic charities suspected of funding terrorism.  Jeff Gerth and James Risen were ordered to reveal their sources, and held in contempt for not doing so, in the controversial investigation of nuclear physicist Wen Ho Lee.  Also, Times reporter Joseph Fried and freelance reporter George Packer were subpoenaed in 2004 to testify in the terrorism case against New York defense attorney Lynn Stewart.  The case ended in January without their being compelled to testify.

“What really stood out for us and helped us make our decision is the fact that the entire organization has supported these writers from the very beginning,” said Linda Foley, president of The Newspaper Guild-CWA and chairman of the award committee.  “That kind of commitment to a free and robust press is something Herbert Block would be proud to honor.”

New York Guild President Barry Lipton noted that The Times is honoring the provision in his union’s contract to pay the costs of defending the Times reporters against judicial efforts to compel them to reveal their sources.  “Absent assurances that they will remain anonymous, some people with important, even history-making information will not take it to the media but will keep silent, depriving us all of news we should have,” Lipton said.  “Reporters’ promises of confidentiality must be honored if they are to fulfill their proper role in a truly free press.”

The annual award, which carries a $5,000 prize, is given to an organization or individual who exemplifies the deeply held ideals of long-time Guild member and renowned Washington Post editorial cartoonist Herbert Block, who published under the name Herblock.

            Mr. Block was a creative genius with a social conscience.  He used a sketchpad and pen to produce vividly compelling editorials.  He had a profound compassion for the weak and disadvantaged, held a deep distrust of unbridled power and most significantly, made substantial contributions to a free press.

            “We are honored to be recognized by The Newspaper Guild with the Herbert Block Freedom Award,” said Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., chairman of The New York Times Company and publisher of The New York Times.  “When we consider the many complex issues that we face at home and abroad, it is hard to imagine a more inopportune moment to restrain the free flow of information.  Given all that is at stake, the American public needs to know much more – not a lot less – about the major issues of the day.  It is therefore imperative that all news media organizations become even more vigilant in our efforts to protect the First Amendment and the free flow of information in this nation.”

            Previous recipients of The Newspaper Guild Herbert Block Freedom Award are Vanessa Leggett, the Medill Innocence Project, and TomPaine.com.

            The award will be presented at The Newspaper Guild Freedom Award Fund Dinner on Wednesday, March 30 in Washington, D.C.  “First Lady of the Press” Helen Thomas will deliver a keynote address and radio icon Bob Edwards will serve as master of ceremonies.  Gordon Peterson, WJLA-TV News anchor and moderator and producer of “Inside Washington,” will join the ceremony as a presenter.

            The annual awards dinner will also feature presentations of the Heywood Broun Award and the David S. Barr Award, both of which honor exceptional journalistic achievement.

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03/07/05