It went well this morning. Lots of reporters there, at least 5 TV news cameras; most of the reporters needed to be walked through the story and (of course) what FR is. I think they all pretty much "got it" after a few questions.
Of course, they all wanted to know who MD4BUSH is; but Kristinn explained that it wouldn't be coming from FR without a subpoena and other court-type stuff. All members of FR have a right to their personal information being kept private - even when the Freeper has broken his Terms of Use Agreement with FR, as MD4BUSH did. Basically, if FR gives up MD4BUSH's identity without a fight, then any other Freeper's identity is fair game for "outing." Precedent, or some other legal term.
Kristinn made the point with the reporters that the Washington ComPost violated their own reporting Guidelines, in that they did not know (and are still saying that they do not know) the identity of their source, MD4BUSH. They had only one source for the story, MD4BUSH, and he was anonymous even to them. And, somebody else comes to them with "the keys to the backroom" of MD4BUSH's account on FR, and they take them and do a sneak and peek.
He also made the point that with the ComPost having the login information for the MD4BUSH account, who knows whether it was MD4BUSH or a ComPost reporter that was posting under that user name. Lots of other comments and questions, but I don't have a photographic memory. Maybe Unkl Mike can share his recollections from the press conference, too.
I have photos, but won't be able to upload them for a few hours.
Do you know if Jane Miller from WBAL TV was there?
http://wbal.com/stories/templates/news.asp?articleid=36721
FreeRepublic Wants Investigation; Steffen Appears On WBAL
Friday, November 04, 2005
WBAL Radio
WBAL Radio's Scott Wykoff reports on FreeRepublic.com's call for an investigation of the Washington Post.
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WBAL Radio's Scott Wykoff has more on FreeRepubic.com's call for an investigation of the Washington Post.
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WBAL Radio's Scott Wykoff reports on FreeRepubic.com's press conference in front of the Washington Post.
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Joseph Steffen appeared with WBAL's Chip Franklin on his Friday "Week in Review" program.
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FreeRepublic.com is calling for an investigation of the role the Washington Post played in the now infamous exchange that led to the firing of an Ehrlich administration worker.
The Post has disclosed that one of its reporters was given the private sign-on information for a poster known as MD4BUSH. That poster was engaged in a on-line conversation thread with Joseph Steffen, who was later fired for posting about rumors involving Mayor O'Malley.
The operators of the website think the Washington Post reporter's actions may have violated the electronic communications privacy act when he signed on using the MD4BUSH sign-on information.
The Washington Post says it did nothing wrong.
(snip)