What the "journalism" Field Has Become...

Fair.org reports that

The Society of Professional Journalists' decision to give its prestigious "First Amendment Award" to embattled New York Times reporter Judith Miller is a blow to freedom of expression.

As Fair.org points out, this organization rewarded a reporter, who allegedly collaborated with and protected a powerful White House official. That official or officials tried to punish the free speech of a government critic and undermine the safety of his family. They committed a possible felony and an unAmerican act to diverge classified information. Other CIA operatives are less safe because of their actions.

The article says, "The SPJ is undermining, not advancing, the principles of the First Amendment." Nor is it standing for principle in ignoring her considerable disinformation about WMD in Iraq. In a fair America, Judith Miller would undergo even more scrutiny than she has.

It's hard to recall a less deserving, less First-Amendment-protecting person than Judith Miller. She didn't even write a story on the subject of Plame, but lamely claimed First Amendment protection. Trouble is, the First Amendment wasn't designed to protect abuse of power, a treacherous outing of a CIA operative, or Miller's role in misleading Americans into war. Despite all that, the NY Times continues to coddle Miller and assign her more important stories (it may want dissembled). She makes a mockery of the so-called "paper of record." But worse, her fanning of the flames of WMD should require an accounting to the American people. Here's what Fair had to say. Also check Huffingtonpost.com The person deserving an award here is Joseph Wilson.