THE CIA AND NEWSMEN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110053-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 53
• Publication Date: April 15, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/20: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110053-0
FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM (TX)
15 April 1980
The CIA and newsmen
Adm. Stanfield Turner regis- When an American journalist,,o
tered surprise last week when any other for that matter, is no
members of the American Society` `Arusted he' cannot..gain=access -to
of Newspaper Editors responded . ; nforniatian freely: Any legitimate
negatively to his admission.that'he newsgathering operation could be
had approved?ofthree instances in ' ':viewed with suspiciorr because of
which the Central' Intelligence the covert activity of a few in the
Agency used journalists for secret profession
intelligence operations. e in some- hostile -nations
Turner was quoted in: a. New ?suchas Iran and the Soviet Union,
York.Times article as saying, 'I -,.American newsmen are-:viewed
don't understand why you think if'- with suspicion. And, in'tb:ose-na-'
you accept an assignment from me_ tions newsgathering is difficult.:
that you are no longer free."- _ It isimportant to the world-that
We are surprised at Admiral; news oLall nations be transmitted
Turner's surprise and at isnaive and'exchanged freely, and credit
ty. :: L u,= bly. Otherwise, propaganda -
Twill
he point. admiral, is not that a- flotii-ish: 3? },a:.
journalist is surrendering his free- Newsmen must,zemaincredibl
dom by working as'an intelligence and a part fromanyintelligenceeo
agent. It is that any journalist who erations. Not only does such-cove
permits such misuse of his profes- activity by: journalists':hamper
sion isplacing the entireprofession .-news?-gather ing abroad it creates
in the category.of untrustworthy. doubts among readers at home. -
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/20: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110053-0