Bob Woodward, assistant managing editor of The Washington Post, and Jill Abramson, managing editor of the New York Times, listen as Greta Van Susteren of Fox News adds her comments to a discussion about the difficulties journalists face today in obtaining information that can shine a light on decisions and actions of the federal government. “Covering the New Secrecy: The Press and Public Policy,” sponsored by the Knight Wallace Fellows, took place Jan. 8. The session addressed increased restrictions on access to information as a means of protecting the United States from terrorism and the resulting erosion of the public’s ability to know what is going on in the country. J. William Leonard, director of the U.S. Information Security Oversight Office and Bradford Berenson, former associate counsel to President George W. Bush, were among those arguing for official constraints. Also discussed was the effect on a free press of subpoenas issued against reporters in an effort to track down leaks. Media attendees included National Public Radio, the Wall Street Journal and the Hearst Corp. The conference was sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and supported by the Law School and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. (Photo by Philip Dattilo)
