NEW YORK -- Two journalism organizations criticized lawmakers on Friday for condemning newspapers that reported on the government's secret program for tracking the finances of terrorists.
"The administration of President George W. Bush and some members of Congress are threatening America's bedrock values of free speech and free press with their attempts to demonize newspapers for fulfilling their constitutional role in our democratic society," the American Society of Newspaper Editors said in a statement.
ASNE and the Society of Professional Journalists issued separate responses to a House resolution that declared the newspaper reports had "placed the lives of Americans in danger." The resolution, which most Republicans supported and most Democrats opposed, was approved by a 227-183 vote on Thursday.
SPJ said the House had "entered dangerous territory" with its resolution.
"This measure was passed without congressional investigation and without a moment of hearings," said SPJ's president, David Carlson. "There's a thin line between official government condemnation of press coverage and violating constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press."...
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