In what is hopefully a conclusion to a situation that should have never happened, the files belonging to former CBS senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge are now returned to her. This episode comes after CBS seized, in an unprecedented fashion, according to CBS staffers who spoke to Hill columnist Jonathan Turley, Herridge’s files, computers, and records after her dismissal. The network relented only after pressure from public outcry and union lawyers to release Herridge’s professional property.
Herridge is a prolific reporter who was one of the most aggressive in covering the White House.
Turley reported a few days ago:
The position of CBS has alarmed many, including the union, as an attack on free press principles by one of the nation’s most esteemed press organizations.
I have spoken confidentially with current and former CBS employees who have stated that they could not recall the company ever taking such a step before. One former CBS journalist said that many employees “are confused why [Herridge] was laid off, as one of the correspondents who broke news regularly and did a lot of original reporting.”
That has led to concerns about the source of the pressure. He added that he had never seen a seizure of records from a departing journalist, and that the move had sent a “chilling signal” in the ranks of CBS.
A former CBS manager, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said that he had “never heard of anything like this.” He attested to the fact that, in past departures, journalists took all of their files and office contents. Indeed, the company would box up everything from cups to post-its for departing reporters. He said the holding of the material was “outrageous” and clearly endangered confidential sources.
The last bit there, the endangering confidential sources, is especially worrisome, as Herridge’s past sources may very well be made public or harassed, and her future prospects are diminished through no fault of her own because prospectives may be leery of speaking to a reporter whose past sources’ identities are precarious. CBS burned her. Thankfully, she had a union (a sentence one rarely hears around here but is nonetheless true). Sometimes it takes goons to get results, and that’s what happened.
The SAG-AFTRA statement reads:
SAG-AFTRA is pleased to confirm that earlier today a representative of our union monitored the return of several boxes containing Catherine Herridge’s reporting materials from her CBS News office in Washington D.C. Herridge is currently reviewing the materials.
We welcome CBS News’ reversal which came after SAG-AFTRA’s intervention and widespread media coverage that underscored shared concerns about press freedom and the First Amendment.
The resolution of this matter sends a strong message of protection for basic First Amendment principles. We further hope the public focus now turns to SAG-AFTRA’s continued efforts to support a Press Shield law that provides additional federal protections for journalists and their confidential sources.
May Herridge land quickly and well someplace else so she can resume her excellent journalism. There are too many stories needing reporting for someone of her talents to be on the sidelines for long.