Author: Scott Lambert

Risen stirs the White House, again

By Media

A recent Google news search shows no new information about Jeffrey Sterling, the Missouri resident and former CIA agent accused of leaking classified information to New York Times reporter James Risen.

By SCOTT LAMBERT// That doesn’t mean nothing has happened with Sterling. An upcoming meeting may mean a date for trial will be set soon. Once that happens, Sterling may get his chance in court.

Until then, members of the press get to sit back and watch the sniping between James Risen toward President Barack Obama and Obama toward the press in general.

Jeter launches website to give a voice to athletes

By Media

By SCOTT LAMBERT// New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter didn’t spend a lot of time retired before he started a new career.

After a hall of fame baseball career that saw Jeter act cautiously around the press, Jeter announced he’s going to become a member of the Fourth Estate – at least the sports end of it. Jeter launched the Player’s Tribune, a web site dedicated to allowing athletes the chance to speak out in their own words, therefore bypassing the gatekeepers that are sports media. The masthead of the web site describes the aim of the site as:

“The Players’ Tribune aims to provide unique insight into the daily sports conversation and to publish first-person stories directly from athletes.” (site here)

Sterling’s trial press coverage turns right into left and left into right

By Media

By SCOTT LAMBERT// Weeks ago, lawyers for Jeffrey Sterling asked appeals courts to send his case back to the district court so his espionage trial could begin. As this happened, the press heated up its coverage of the coming trial and the future of both Sterling and reporter James Risen.

For the last couple of years reporters have concentrated on Risen’s refusal to disclose the source of his book chapter about a failed CIA plot directed at Iran. Stories are now starting to question the actual case against Sterling, who is accused by the government of providing the information to Risen.

What is surprising is that conservative pundits are defending President Obama for the espionage prosecution, while liberal pundits are criticizing him.

Echoes of ‘A Few Good Men’ in Miami Dolphins story

By Media, , ,

BY SCOTT LAMBERT / As the bullying allegations aimed at Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito continue, connections to the 1992 movie “A Few Good Men” become easier to make. In fact, it shouldn’t be long before Miami head coach Joe Philbin says to a group of reporters: “You can’t handle the truth!” In this case, it’s the media playing the role of the courtroom, and breaking stories every day seem to mirror the Incognito situation and the movie.