Firings at CBS

[Aqua Letifer]

@Jolly said in Firings at CBS:

Don't think the contention is over hardware, but the personal notes and especially the source information.

Did they let her go back for her stuff, or did they tell her it'd be sent to them? If so, anything missing?

[Axtremus]

@Mik said in Firings at CBS:

Stinks.

Shouldn’t you withhold judgement before you hear the other side out?

[Doctor Phibes]

@Jolly said in Firings at CBS:

Don't think the contention is over hardware, but the personal notes and especially the source information.

I don't really know what is standard practice for journalists, but the expectation for me would be that what happens in my office stays in my office. Obviously, stuff gets taken away - my ancient collection of business cards, for example, but all my email, technical files, assessments, notebooks etc. would stay behind.

[George K]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

I don't really know what is standard practice for journalists

See the SAG*AFTRA comment above:

"The retention of a media professional's reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices which supports the immediate return of reporting materials"

[Doctor Phibes]

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

I don't really know what is standard practice for journalists

See the SAG*AFTRA comment above:

"The retention of a media professional's reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices which supports the immediate return of reporting materials"

I'd be interested to hear their justification for this, then. Based on some of the people let go, it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

[George K]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

Yes, I see your point, and you're probably right.

But Herridge's files?

[Aqua Letifer]

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

Yes, I see your point, and you're probably right.

But Herridge's files?

I've been a journalist, and I've seen journalists get laid off.

I've also seen a journalist get fired for plagiarism. They had security come up, escort the guy out of the office and down into the elevator. They walked with him very closely.

Even then they let the guy take his rolodex (yeah, no shit, he was still using one of those) and a box of files.

So, a couple of things:

1. Yes, this is weird.
2. Could be a lot of different reasons for it. One thing going on, media layoffs are handled very differently in recent years. It's more sneaky in a lot of places. They'll clean your desk out over the weekend and have your personal effects mailed to you—you get a message in email or on your phone. Or you might be asked out to lunch by your manager and on the elevator ride down, he tells you you're laid off and you're to escort the building. Or, sure, it could be some kind of conspiracy. Who knows. But it isn't standard practice. Not even close.

[Copper]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

what happens in my office stays in my office

Your office isn't specifically mentioned in the Constitution.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Copper said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

what happens in my office stays in my office

Your office isn't specifically mentioned in the Constitution.

I think you might need to be a little less cryptic.

[Jolly]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Firings at CBS:

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

Yes, I see your point, and you're probably right.

But Herridge's files?

I've been a journalist, and I've seen journalists get laid off.

I've also seen a journalist get fired for plagiarism. They had security come up, escort the guy out of the office and down into the elevator. They walked with him very closely.

Even then they let the guy take his rolodex (yeah, no shit, he was still using one of those) and a box of files.

So, a couple of things:

1. Yes, this is weird.
2. Could be a lot of different reasons for it. One thing going on, media layoffs are handled very differently in recent years. It's more sneaky in a lot of places. They'll clean your desk out over the weekend and have your personal effects mailed to you—you get a message in email or on your phone. Or you might be asked out to lunch by your manager and on the elevator ride down, he tells you you're laid off and you're to escort the building. Or, sure, it could be some kind of conspiracy. Who knows. But it isn't standard practice. Not even close.

In that case, I believe I would have an info stash corporate could not get their hands on

[Aqua Letifer]

@Jolly said in Firings at CBS:

@Aqua-Letifer said in Firings at CBS:

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

Yes, I see your point, and you're probably right.

But Herridge's files?

I've been a journalist, and I've seen journalists get laid off.

I've also seen a journalist get fired for plagiarism. They had security come up, escort the guy out of the office and down into the elevator. They walked with him very closely.

Even then they let the guy take his rolodex (yeah, no shit, he was still using one of those) and a box of files.

So, a couple of things:

1. Yes, this is weird.
2. Could be a lot of different reasons for it. One thing going on, media layoffs are handled very differently in recent years. It's more sneaky in a lot of places. They'll clean your desk out over the weekend and have your personal effects mailed to you—you get a message in email or on your phone. Or you might be asked out to lunch by your manager and on the elevator ride down, he tells you you're laid off and you're to escort the building. Or, sure, it could be some kind of conspiracy. Who knows. But it isn't standard practice. Not even close.

In that case, I believe I would have an info stash corporate could not get their hands on

Yeah, that's what I wonder about, too. Absolutely no way she didn't have copies.

[George K]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Firings at CBS:

Yeah, that's what I wonder about, too. Absolutely no way she didn't have copies.

But it's more than a question of "having a backup."

It's a question of someone else, someone you probably don't trust, having access to confidential material - sources, etc.

If it becomes knowledge that your sources are no longer secure, your career as a journalist might well be over.

[Aqua Letifer]

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Aqua-Letifer said in Firings at CBS:

Yeah, that's what I wonder about, too. Absolutely no way she didn't have copies.

But it's more than a question of "having a backup."

It's a question of someone else, someone you probably don't trust, having access to confidential material - sources, etc.

If it becomes knowledge that your sources are no longer secure, your career as a journalist might well be over.

No I get that, I'm just curious about the files themselves and if she has a backup.

[George K]

https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-statement-cbs-news-return-reporters-files

February 26, 2024
SAG-AFTRA released the following statement:

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.

Unanswered: Who saw the confidential files, if anyone?

[Mik]

Yes. While this is a feel-good action, it doesn't necessarily mitigate the harm done already.

[Aqua Letifer]

@Mik said in Firings at CBS:

Yes. While this is a feel-good action, it doesn't necessarily mitigate the harm done already.

Ten bucks says no follow-up reporting or investigations on this.

[Mik]

Nope. That's a make-it-go-away action. Nobody saw anything. Trust them.

[Axtremus]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/catherine-herridge-civil-contempt_n_65e115c8e4b013678e148e9e

Journalist Catherine Herridge Held In Civil Contempt For Refusing To Divulge Source
A federal judge has held the veteran investigative reporter in civil contempt for refusing to divulge her source for a series of stories during her time at Fox News.

[Jolly]

That's going nowhere.

[George K]

@Jolly said in Firings at CBS:

That's going nowhere.

Maybe. There was a reporter during the Bush (II) era who refused to reveal a source. She was held in contempt and spent about 6 months in the clink. She never revealed, iirrc.