LAT and NYT editors defend their decisions to publish bank data reports

[sabra]

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/06/23/ap2836416.html

<snip>

The New York Times and Los Angeles Times quoted their editors as defending their decision to publish the financial data tracking effort despite being asked by the Bush administration to withhold publication.

Bill Keller, The New York Times' executive editor, said it considered the administration's arguments but in the end decided to publish. "We remain convinced that the administration's extraordinary access to this vast repository of international financial data, however carefully targeted use it may be, is a matter of public interest."

Dean Baquet, editor of the Los Angeles Times, said: "We weighed the government's arguments carefully, but in the end we determined that it was in the public interest to publish information about the extraordinary reach of this program."

[robinlynne]

1. about time. Are we going to actually start doing some news around here?