NOT THEIR ROLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100200037-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 15, 2007
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: April 30, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/06/15: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100200037-2
WHEELING INTELLIGENGER (Vi'. VA, )
30 April. 1980
Admiral Stansfield Turner,
director of the Central Intellig-
enci~--Agency, created an uproar
among American journalists
recently when he said he sees
nothing wrong with- recruiting
overseas employees of U.S. news
organizations as spies. The state-
ment should cause all Americans
to be equally; concerned.
A major flap resulted a few
years back when it was revealed
that the CIA had been using
American journalists overseas
for covert intelligence gathering
duties. George Bush, then CIA
director, announced in 1976 that
the practices would be halted.
And Turner, in 1977, reiterated
the policy-with a loophole that
didn't get much attention at the
time: he said the exception would
be if the director specifically
gave his approval.
However, appearing before the
annual convention of the Ameri-
can Society of Newspaper Edi-
tors in Washington earlier this
month, Turner said he endorses-
the idea of recruiting a journalist
for CIA duties "when it is vitally
important to the nation." Turner,
who also reversed a previous
stand and refused to promise that
CIA agents wouldn't-pose as
journalists, 'said, "I think a lot of
correspondents are patriotic
enough to do this."
We don't dispute that most.
journalists are patriotic, but
Turner misses the point. Namely,
that the use of even one journal-
ist for CIA purposes would-.have
an adverse effect on all journal-
ists working overseas for Ameri-
can news organizations. Their
integrity and independence
would be compromised. And the
discovery of a CIA agent posing
as a journalist would cast suspi-
cion on all journalists.
The job of U.S. journalists is to
report the news fairly and.accur-
ately. And to do this they must be
totally independent. A connection
with the CIA or any other govern-
ment agency would have the
potential for two things: drying
up news sources overseas-(not
everVone wants to talk with a
newsman who also may be a CIA
spy) and destroying the confi-
dence of those back home (a
reader could but wonder abou
the objectivity of a newsman
serving two masters).
The New York Times put it this
way: "We argue from the prem-~
ise. that free American inquiry,
around the world has a greater
value than any occasional intel
ligence mission."
Most major American -new
organizations with representa-
tives overseas prohibit those
employees from working for th
CIA. on the side, and rightly. so.
Journalists are the eyes and ear
of the 'public, and their objectiv-
ity should not be compromised. -
Approved For Release 2007/06/15: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100200037-2