(RI)Reporter Convicted for Protecting Source

[maddezmom]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. A local television reporter was convicted of criminal contempt Thursday for refusing to say who gave him an FBI videotape showing a city official taking a bribe.

Jim Taricani, of WJAR, is to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres on Dec. 9. The undercover tape was aired prominently and repeatedly by the station.

Taricani faces up to six months in prison.

The tape was part of a federal probe into corruption at Providence City Hall during former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr.'s administration. The tape shows a Cianci aide.



http://www2.winktv.com/x466.xml?URL=http://localhost/APWIREFEED/d86ecuto1.xml

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Hey Novak, ya watchin'?

[warrens]

9. The difference is, this guy is a hero, Novak knowingly broke the law

This really sounds suspiciously like a Cianci crony trying to find out who fingered Cianci so they can get revenge. The reporter is to be congratulated for his ethics.

Novak has no such justification. He knew when he printed Plame's name that the person who gave it to him was committing a felony purely for revenge.

[livinginphotographs]

13. That was the first thing that came to mind.

n/t

[Champion Jack]

2. Bob Nofacts..You're next!

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi Xeno of Elia!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[The Doctor.]

4. Oooo, goody! - A precedent!

You ready to tell us Bob?

[Feathered Fish]

5. Another nail...

Journalists all over need to confront this problem of persecution. I think that it's disgusting that the state of the world and security fears are growing into a major problem for those who just want to report facts without being subjected to assinine criminal behaviours that undoubtedly come their way when they reveal their sources. I realize that this particular story deals with city corruption, but I believe the reason the reporter is being convicted is because of erosion of rights for everyone. Bloody hell.

[colonel odis]

12. and it's only going to get worse.

[Justitia]

6. oops - dupe, sorry

[Justitia]

7. of 2 minds about this

I believe in protection of sources when exposing corruption. That is a legitimate (and necessary) function of the press / media.

I DO NOT believe in protection of those who use the press to treasonously and vindictively exact revenge on perceived political enemies (ala Plame affair).

The difference is in ascribing intent and consequence. I understand this could become politically subjective (except in the Plame incident - that is glaringly straightforward IMO).

[flordehinojos]

8. Why won't they do the same to that arrogant bob novak?

Is it that he's got the Bush protection plan?

[Ima]

15. ...

Someone is protecting Novak. Are they ever going to go after him?

[maddezmom]

10. updated link: Plame and Wen Ho Lee get a mention

`snip~
Taricani would be the first to serve time on a criminal contempt among a crop of reporters around the country to serve time on a criminal contempt charge. Around the nation, several reporters face possible fines or jail, including the cases of the leaked identity of CIA (news - web sites) operative Valerie Plame and a lawsuit against the government by nuclear physicist Wen Ho Lee (news - web sites).

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=8&u=/ap/20041118/ap_on_re_us/mum_reporter

[grumpy old fart]

14. Why Novak won't swing.....

is patently obvious. It's a federal crime and a federal investigation. If ya haven't noticed, the Justice Department is just the enforcement arm of the Chimp King's Ministry of Homeland Security. Sieg Heil!

[maddezmom]

16. also a patenly disgusting misuse of power

[0007]

17. .....while the people look the other way and trample on Women Rights

and show one another what the bible sez about men sleeping in the same bed.