RELIABLY SOURCED

Over at The New Republic, Andrew Sullivan is taking issue with Richard Leiby's Eason Jordan/Marianne Pearl story (which I mentioned here). And issue, and issue, and issue -- the danged thing runs more than 1,800 words. His main objection seems to be that the story it's invasive gossip, not hard news. And while I agree with his details, I guess Mr. Sullivan doesn't properly appreciate the fact that Leiby writes a gossip column. Yet Sullivan charges:

The only "ethical implications" here are the ethics of purveying malicious gossip about people's private lives to sell newspapers and fill space.

Well, duh.

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posted by WWB at 1:11 PM |