The Really Big Chill

By Gordon Hopkinas Journalists are taught not to become a part of the story. We don’t want to be part of the story. We just want to report the story. Nevertheless, sometimes journalists end up in the middle of the story. Sometimes, they ARE the story.Per Attorney General Pam Bondi, “This past week, at the request of the Department of War, the Department of Justice and FBI executed a search warrant at the home of a Washington Post journalist who was obtaining and reporting classified and illegally leaked information from a Pentagon contractor. The leaker is currently behind bars. I am proud to work alongside Secretary Hegseth on this effort. The Trump Administration will not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information that, when reported, pose a grave risk to our Nation’s national security and the brave men and women who are serving our country.”That reporter was Hannah Natanson. The warrant approving the search of the journalist’s home, and the seizure of a phone and two laptops, hasn’t been made public. The related court records remain sealed at this time. That is concerning because, normally, even the FBI can’t just get a warrant without specific information about a crime. This is known in TV cops and lawyer shows as a “fishing expedition.”In short, is this journalist suspected of committing a crime, or is she just suspected of talking to someone who committed a crime? That is an important distinction.People always act surprised when this sort of thing happens, as if it is an aberration. It’s not. It is happening far more than you realize, and not just to the big guys like the Washington Post. Remember the police raid on the Marion County Record in Kanas?When this kind of thing happens, you see certain words repeated endlessly in news reports and editorials. Words like “Chill.” Advocates for press freedom claim this will have a “chilling effect” on investigative journalism.It absolutely will have a “chilling effect,” but not in the way most people think. This won’t hurt Natanson’s career. It will only burnish her reputation. Indeed, you can expect her to soon receive some big journalism awards and a book deal. If you happen to be at the Sundance Film Festival this year, you can check out “Seized,” the documentary about the Marion County Record raid, which also saw a huge increase in circulation thanks to the publicity.No, the real concern here is for her sources, who most likely spoke to her with the understanding their identities will be protected. They are the real targets of the FBI.This will not stop investigative journalists from reporting. It will, however, make sources even more wary of talking to reporters, which is the real point. If reporters are fair game, then their sources are fair game, making it even harder to keep the public informed of what their government is doing.Which is also the point.

Roger Dale Roskilly

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