Woa!

http://www.cjr.org/the_kicker/an_unfort ... ment-25504

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CJR makes some invaluable points and distinctions. One fact that I
haven't seen reported anywhere is that one of the "reporters" involved
has spent most of the past decade as the Director of Investigations for
a law firm -- not for a media entity.

This is Richard Behar here an investigative journalist and the author
of two lengthy exposes on Scientology in Forbes and Time magazines
(1986; 1991). Time, Inc. and I were sued by the church for libel -- and
spent a decade in extremely time-consuming and costly litigation until
the US Supreme Court refused to hear the church's appeals.

The St. Petersburg Times should be applauded for being the only major,
independent and professional media entity in America today that is
willing to put resources into ongoing coverage of the church. Whatever
the results of this strange, secret study that Steve Weinberg and the
two writers have crafted, it's not investigative journalism as I have
ever learned it and understood it. I urge Steve, who I have respected
immensely throughout my career, to rethink his actions here. And I'm
optimistic that if he thinks long and hard about this, he may even
conclude that he should return the money to the church -- or donate it
to a worthy charity.

And then let's all get on with all the investigative journalism that so
desperately needs to be done in the country -- now more than ever.

Posted by Richard Behar on Wed 24 Feb 2010 at 08:35 PM
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--
Ray.