WELCOME to the debut of “The Truth Is!”, a blog of reporting and commentary that aims to be informative, thoughtful and provocative. At least initially, the blog will have a strong heartland flavor by virtue of the connection of a number of us to Cowles family journalism. I am former editor of the Des Moines Register’s opinion pages. Another contributor, Michael Gartner, is former editor of the paper; he later served as president of NBC News. Another former Register editor who has agreed to contribute, Geneva Overholser, is director of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg school of journalism. Followers of the blog will have access also to the work of Herbert Strentz of Des Moines, a close Register and other newspaper watcher who once headed Drake University’s journalism school. Bill Leonard, a longtime Register editorial writer, will add insights.

“The Truth Is!” will be supervised by my daughter, Marcia Wolff, a communications lawyer for 20 years with Arnold and Porter (Washington, D.C.). Invaluable technical assistance in assembling and maintaining the blog is provided by my grandsons Julian Cranberg, a college first-year, and Daniel Wolff, a high school senior.

If you detect a whiff of nepotism in this operation, so be it. All of it is strictly a labor of love. —Gil Cranberg

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Gilbert Cranberg: MEMO FROM THE PUBLISHER

Memo

From: The Publisher
To: New York Times Editorial Page Staff

Subject: Jan.2 Times editorial, Edward Snowden, whistle-blower--Considering the value of his leaks, he should be offered clemency or a plea bargain

As you know, I do not ordinarily second-guess our editorials. Now and then, I am bothered enough by one of them to want to share my thoughts.

I thought the Snowden editorial was extremely well done. It was deeply reported and gave our readers important background information. The head and subhead accurately summarized the central theme of the piece. Which brings me to the point of this memo: When we say, “Considering the value of his leaks, he should be offered clemency…” we are saying, unmistakably, that the ends justify the means. I am not aware that we have endorsed that proposition so baldly in the past. There are times, perhaps, when the proposition is tenable. I have no doubt that we would have endorsed the assassination of a mass-murdering psychopath like Hitler. Is the case of Snowden in any way comparable? I bring this up solely to suggest that when we endorse, in principle, that the ends justify the means, we should acknowledge to readers, upfront, that is what we are doing and devote some space to explaining what I believe to be a departure from our usual policy.

Please feel free for you and members your staff to discuss this further. Perhaps we can discuss it over lunch, which I will be pleased to host. Let me add that I think you and your staff do a superb job. Best wishes for the New Year.



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