Halberstam, Huffington, Jones, Dalglish Comment on Judy Miller's Exit

By: E&P Staff The commentary on Judith Miller's not-so-sudden departure from The New York Times has begun.

David Halberstam, the former Times reporter and Pulitzer Prize-winner who had been critical of the Times' handling of the Miller matter, told E&P her departure marked a "very sad end of a very sad and incalculably damaging story." When asked to elaborate on what damage it might cause, he said ,"I think the word 'incalculably' says it."

Arianna Huffington, who has written many Huffington Post blog entries criticizing Judith Miller, is not sorry to see Miller departing The New York Times. "It's obviously very, very good news," said Huffington, when reached Wednesday by E&P. "This is a victory for The New York Times newsroom and for journalists."

She added that Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. -- who Huffington described as Miller's "main ally" at the paper -- could no longer save the controversial reporter when it became clear that many at the Times "had real objections to her returning to the paper."

Huffington, who also writes a column syndicated by Tribune Media Services, said she plans to write a short Huffington Post blog entry about Miller's departure Wednesday and a longer one Thursday. She noted that there are still plenty of things to discuss relating to Miller, including "why the Times stood by her so long. It was a tremendous loss to their credibility and a financial loss."

Alex Jones, Director of the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, said Miller's departure "removes the uncertainty and that was something internally that had the newspaper on edge."

But Jones, a former Times reporter who co-wrote a popular history of the paper, said questions still remain unanswered about the sordid affair. "I think he Times owes its readers an explanation of what happened here and why the staff so objected to her presence that they were forced to do it," he added. "It has to do with things that go well beyond Judy, editing decisions and a set of actions that went well beyond her, but that so compromised her with the staff that they made it impossible for her to stay."

Jones also pointed to uncertainties for the future, particularly any role Miller might play in the upcoming trial of former White house aid I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who was recently indicted on five criminal counts stemming from his part in the Valerie Plame leak.

"This is not over because Judy will be part of this trial that is coming up," Jones said. "What is her role going to be in the trial? Is she going to resist? Will the Times continue to defend her? There are still several shoes left to drop."

Lucy Dalglish, executive director of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, worked with Miller during her recent court battles. She said the terms of departure sounded amicable.

"It sounds like they have mutually agreed upon something and I am sure it will be for the best, if they both agreed upon it." She did not think such a bitter end would hurt Miller's positive efforts toward protecting sourcing rights.

"I think what Judy did to defend her confidential sources is something she felt she had to do," Dalglish added. She declined to comment on how the departure might affect Miller's career or personal life: "I don't think I am in a position to comment on that."