NEWSMEN AREN'T SPIES

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CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5
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RIPPUB
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K
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19
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
September 9, 2010
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21
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Publication Date: 
May 3, 1980
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OPEN SOURCE
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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 with afull, unbiased, indepen- This modification should be dent account of foreign affairs rescinded and the CIA should than by providing a cover for-, return to the ban on "any paid.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. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 ? n, R f';~ c . . . ' 1 . ? . a ~ E ~ . r.,.crrr, . ill. ^ono". Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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: .' Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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 Page Page Page ST. PAUL, MINN PIONEER PRESS MORNING - 100,502 SUNDAY - 244,261 APR 2 0 1980 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Fro;--t Page &!ij PQJ Other rage 111DIAiIAP01 IS, I`lD. VEW S 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. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 ~/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. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 .: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. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/09: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110021-5 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