More Attacks on "People's Right To Know"
Scranton Papers Mystified by Secret Probe, Subpoenas Not Served
By Mark Fitzgerald
Published: August 20, 2004 1:23 PM EST
CHICAGO With the recent flurry of subpoenas served on newsrooms, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said this week, "the number of journalists facing jail in the United States to protect their sources is unprecedented." Yet, at the jointly owned Tribune and Scranton Times in Pennsylvania, the newsroom buzz is about the subpoenas that have not arrived. The Times-Shamrock Communications papers learned only this week that since April a special prosecutor has been investigating an alleged leak of grand jury information to the newspapers. The special prosecutor, Lehigh County Chief Deputy District Attorney Terence P. Houck, was appointed without public notice April 13 by senior Northampton County Judge Isaac S. Garb to investigate the alleged leaks. Garb said he expects a final report from the special prosecutor "fairly soon," an Aug. 19 story by Times-Shamrock News Writer David Singleton reported. What's puzzling those inside the Tribune and Times is that Houck has not subpoenaed or otherwise contacted anyone at the papers."I have no idea what to make of it," said Larry Beaupre, managing editor for both papers. The unannounced appointment of the special prosecutor was also surprising, Beaupre said. "We learned way back in spring when the grand jury was taking testimony that the judge said he would investigate (the alleged leaks)," he added, "but we took that to mean he would get one of his clerks to talk to people."The grand jury convened to investigate allegations of abuse at Lackawanna County Prison that were disclosed in a series of investigative articles in the Times-Tribune papers. The series described beatings of inmates, drug smuggling, the use of prison labor for political officials, and even electioneering by prisoners, who printed campaign posters in the print shop. A deputy warden and two guards have been indicted on charges relating to the alleged abuse.In January, the Times-Tribune papers published stories, citing an unnamed source close to the investigation, that described the testimony of two Lackawanna County commissioners as "vague and evasive." The two blamed the state attorney general's office for the leak and in March asked Garb to impose sanctions on the office.
Mark Fitzgerald (mfitzgerald@editorandpublisher.com) is editor at large for E&P.
By Mark Fitzgerald
Published: August 20, 2004 1:23 PM EST
CHICAGO With the recent flurry of subpoenas served on newsrooms, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said this week, "the number of journalists facing jail in the United States to protect their sources is unprecedented." Yet, at the jointly owned Tribune and Scranton Times in Pennsylvania, the newsroom buzz is about the subpoenas that have not arrived. The Times-Shamrock Communications papers learned only this week that since April a special prosecutor has been investigating an alleged leak of grand jury information to the newspapers. The special prosecutor, Lehigh County Chief Deputy District Attorney Terence P. Houck, was appointed without public notice April 13 by senior Northampton County Judge Isaac S. Garb to investigate the alleged leaks. Garb said he expects a final report from the special prosecutor "fairly soon," an Aug. 19 story by Times-Shamrock News Writer David Singleton reported. What's puzzling those inside the Tribune and Times is that Houck has not subpoenaed or otherwise contacted anyone at the papers."I have no idea what to make of it," said Larry Beaupre, managing editor for both papers. The unannounced appointment of the special prosecutor was also surprising, Beaupre said. "We learned way back in spring when the grand jury was taking testimony that the judge said he would investigate (the alleged leaks)," he added, "but we took that to mean he would get one of his clerks to talk to people."The grand jury convened to investigate allegations of abuse at Lackawanna County Prison that were disclosed in a series of investigative articles in the Times-Tribune papers. The series described beatings of inmates, drug smuggling, the use of prison labor for political officials, and even electioneering by prisoners, who printed campaign posters in the print shop. A deputy warden and two guards have been indicted on charges relating to the alleged abuse.In January, the Times-Tribune papers published stories, citing an unnamed source close to the investigation, that described the testimony of two Lackawanna County commissioners as "vague and evasive." The two blamed the state attorney general's office for the leak and in March asked Garb to impose sanctions on the office.
Mark Fitzgerald (mfitzgerald@editorandpublisher.com) is editor at large for E&P.
posted by BLONDIE at 11:56 AM
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