COLUMBIA, Mo., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society of American
Business Editors and Writers, a trade group representing 3,500 financial
journalists, is outraged that any company would stoop to unethical -- if
not illegal -- means to gain access to a reporter's telephone records.
According to news reports, Hewlett-Packard officials hired private
investigators to learn who talked to the media about board decision-making.
These investigators, according to the reports, reportedly stole
journalists' identities in an attempt to learn if certain reporters had
talked with Hewlett-Packard insiders.
Such actions have a chilling effect on the journalistic process and
thereby do harm to the public, investors and all of us who rely on the free
flow of information. Such actions also compromise a reporter's ability to
talk freely with sources. Sources in sensitive situations may fear
retribution if their bosses, or other possible adversaries, could easily
steal the phone records of inquiring reporters.
In addition, HP's actions raise serious questions about the privacy and
security practices at phone companies. In an age of concern about identity
theft, the ease with which records were compromised is something that
journalists ought to explore much more deeply.
Journalists possess the same rights as any other citizens when it comes
to the protection of their personal information. In addition, reporters'
notes, phone records and conversations with their sources are protected in
many states -- including California, where HP is headquartered -- from
searches or review even by law enforcement agencies.
California's Attorney General has publicly stated that a practice known
as "pretexting" -- faking a person's identity to gain their personal
information -- violates state privacy laws. If that is the case, SABEW
hopes violators face the full force of the law.
"Pretexting" thefts are a true threat to all Americans' personal
privacy. Hewlett-Packard's actions have shown that "pretexting" is also a
threat to the freedom of the press.
SABEW is an independent, not-for-profit organization whose mission is
to encourage comprehensive reporting of economic and financial events and
to upgrade the craft's skills and knowledge through educational efforts.
SABEW is headquartered in Columbia, Mo., at the School of Journalism at the
University of Missouri.
For more information about SABEW, contact Carrie Paden, SABEW's
executive director, at 573-882-8985 or padenc@missouri.edu. Or visit the
organization's Web site at http://www.sabew.org.
SOURCE Society of American Business Editors and Writers
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.sabew.org/
CONTACT:
Carrie Paden, SABEW's executive director,
+1-573-882-8985 or padenc@missouri.edu
|
