By: E&P Staff The weekly newspaper, the New York Observer, reports on its Web site that embattled reporter Judith Miller and The New York Times are negotiating over the terms under which she might agree to leave the paper.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that this was going on but the Observer claims to have the first details. Here is part of its report:
"According to a source familiar with the discussions, there are three issues on the table. The first is how much severance Miller would receive, the second concerns whether she will be given space on the Op-Ed page to answer critics and the third is whether the Times and Miller will issue a joint statement defining the terms of her departure.
"Miller declined to comment. Miller?s attorney, Robert Bennett, and Times lawyer George Freeman, did not return calls for comment.
"Multiple sources sympathetic to Miller?s case said they did not anticipate Miller leaving until her conditions were met. 'The sense I have is that it?s not a question of dismissing her. If she won?t go, she won?t go,' said one source. ...
"Miller's potential departure is complicated by the fact that she is protected by the Newspaper Guild?s contract with the paper. The contract limits the paper?s ability to fire employees at will.
"A source with knowledge of the proceedings said Miller has not ruled out legal action if her proposed conditions are not met. 'She will not leave under these circumstances, not in a defamatory atmosphere,' the source said."
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