The Associated Press (AP) has published a
statement of its news Values and Principles. Insofar as their reporting on the Murray documents, I think they have seriously broken their policies.
More below
From the AP's Statement they claim:
For more than a century and a half, men and women of The Associated Press have had the privilege of bringing truth to the world. They have gone to great lengths, overcome great obstacles - and, too often, made great and horrific sacrifices - to ensure that the news was reported quickly, accurately and honestly. Our efforts have been rewarded with trust: More people in more places get their news from the AP than from any other source.
In the 21st century, that news is transmitted in more ways than ever before - in print, on the air and on the Web, with words, images, graphics, sounds and video. But always and in all media, we insist on the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior when we gather and deliver the news.
That means we abhor inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortions. It means we will not knowingly introduce false information into material intended for publication or broadcast; nor will we alter photo or image content. Quotations must be accurate, and precise.
And ultimately, it means it is the responsibility of every one of us to ensure that these standards are upheld. Any time a question is raised about any aspect of our work, it should be taken seriously.
Sue Leeson of AP in London released a news story on the Murray documents. Her lead-in paragraph reads:
A former British ambassador has published government documents he says prove that Britain knowingly received intelligence extracted under torture from prisoners in Uzbekistan.
Although she is based in London and probably writing to a British audience, both she and AP knows that this story will be picked up in all the subscribing US papers.
Notice what is missing in her lead-in? She makes no mention that the intelligence on the torturing was received "VIA THE US". Murray says "We receive intelligence obtained under torture from the Uzbek intelligence services, via the US. [My emphasis] It was the US behind the torturing.
So AP I am raising a question about your reporting and I do want you to take it seriously. Leeson's reporting was not entirely truthful, not accurate and not completely honest. By not picking up "via the US" you have introduced false information in this story for it sounds as if the intelligence was coming straight from Uzebekistan to the UK.Why was the US role in the torture left out of a story which she and you knew would be picked up by the US papers?