VOICES FROM ACROSS THE USA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100100057-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2012
• Sequence Number: 57
• Publication Date: May 22, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/02/24: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100100057-8
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ON.RAR -X* fil 22 May 1986
VOICES FROM ACROSS THE USA
Do you think media reports endanger national security?
DONALD LaMOTHE, 59
Retired
Warren, Mich.
They do at times. It all de-
pends on what the story is. The
media should delay broadcast.
ing certain information until
the Information Is proven au-
thentic. But the USA govern-
ment is not blameless, either.
The government leaks infor-
mation to the press when it's
trying to get a point across.
That's manipulating the public.
CAROLE BURAKOFF, 42
Ta, Calif
I don't think the media com-
promise national security. Peo-
ple really have a right to know
what's going on in our country.
There are certain things that
we shouldn't know, for in-
stance, if the information is so
top secret that Russia shouldn't
know about it But I want to
know what is happening in our
country.
BOB ERVIN, 51
Retired
Nashville, Tenn.
The media do not compro.
mise our security, because the
government will not let enough
information out for security to
be compromised. I don't feel
threatened by media leaks be.
cause that information is prob-
ably no longer critical to the
government anyway. That's
why it's leaked. Top secret in-
formation wouldn't be out.
PHIL SETTECASE, 55
Architect
Salem, Ore.
Sometimes I wish the media
would not say anything until an
Incident was completely
checked out I don',.L need to
know everything. I'm interest-
ed, but if keeping information
secret means the success of a
security operation, then I don't
need to know. For the good of
the people, sometimes they
shouldn't know everything.
JANET SEQAL, 25
Marketing an;vst
New York, N. Y.
In general, no, but there are
occasional times when a re-
porter may lose perspective
when uncovering a big story,
and may reveal information
that should be kept secret If
the government ever rues an
order instructing the media not
to publicize something to pro-
tect our national security, the
media would probably comply.
FRANCIENA TURNER, 31
Volunteer coordinator
Washington, D.C.
Yes, the media endanger
our national security to a cer-
tain extent Countries have ac-
cess to our media through their
embassies stationed here. If a
sensitive matter Is being trans-
mitted, the embassies pick It
up. That's jeopardizing securi-
ty. But if information is leaked,
the government should be re-
sponsible.
JEAN CARTER, 63
Nurse
Staunton, Va.
I don't think media reports
endanger security. It's only fair
that the public be kept closely
Informed, if for nothing else
than for peace of mind. One
way or another, people are go-
ing to become aware of what's
going on. The media wouldn't
intentionally endanger our
country by publicizing infor-
mation. They just wouldn't.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/02/24: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100100057-8