Ali WatkinsAli Watkins trades sexual favors for news scoops.
Ali WatkinsNEW YORK TIMES HEAD EDITOR DEAN BAQUET ON ALI WATKINS
A Note From Dean: Update on Ali Watkins
Dear Colleagues,
We have concluded an internal review of the F.B.I. leak investigation involving Ali Watkins, a
reporter in the Washington bureau. Typically, we would not comment on our findings concerning
a sensitive personnel matter, but given the extraordinary nature of the case, the public interest
issues it raises and the importance these issues may have for the profession, we felt we should
share our thinking with you.
As an institution, we abhor the actions of the government in this case. Without notice,
investigators rummaged through years of a journalist’s phone and email records, an intrusion
that puts First Amendment protections at risk and violated Justice Department guidelines that
have bipartisan support. An undercover border patrol agent, who appears to have illicitly
accessed her confidential travel records, also tried to pressure her into spying on other reporters
and their sources.
It is worth noting that prosecutors were not looking into leaks of documents involving warfare or
life-and-death secrets. Ali was reporting about an inquiry into whether one of the president’s
campaign advisers had been approached by Russian agents in 2013.
As we learn more, it is clear that the government leak investigation was an attempt to interfere
with the work of journalists by an administration whose leader has called the media “the enemy
of the people” and has pledged an unprecedented crackdown on disclosures about government
activities, threatening to undermine reporters’ ability to inform the public. Times reporters have
already noted that sources are clamming up because of this assault on how we do our jobs.
But this case has also raised questions about the line between private and professional life. We
are troubled by Ali’s conduct, particularly while she was employed by other news organizations.
For a reporter to have an intimate relationship with someone he or she covers is unacceptable.
It violates our written standards and the norms of journalism. Additionally, on the advice of her
personal lawyer, she did not disclose to The Times that her records had been seized months
ago, which put our news organization in a difficult position.
Ali is a talented journalist, and no one has challenged the accuracy of her reporting. She has
also made some poor judgments. But as she started her career, I believe she was not well
served by some editors elsewhere who failed to respond appropriately to her disclosures about
her relationships. We also bear some responsibility: Our inquiry found that during the hiring
process she disclosed aspects of her past relationships to some editors at The Times.
Ali was forthcoming and cooperative in our internal review — which included interviews with
people inside The Times newsroom and at her previous workplaces, as well as an examination
of her stories — and she understands the gravity of her mistakes.
After careful examination and discussion, I have decided to reassign her to a position in New
York for a fresh start, where she will be closely supervised and have a senior mentor. We also
intend to tighten our job candidate screening process to ensure that significant questions make
their way to the newsroom leadership for full discussion — which did not happen in this case.
We hold our journalists and their work to the highest standards. We are giving Ali an opportunity
to show that she can live up to them. I believe she can. I also believe that The Times must be a
humane place that can allow for second chances when there are mitigating circumstances.
— Dean
#7. I guess we can say about Ali that “she stoops to please, often on her knees”.