Covering the CIA in Times of Crisis: Obstacles and Strategies

Abstract

A paper by Ted Gup, fall 2003 fellow, examines how the U.S. press fared in covering the intelligence community before and after two catastrophic intelligence failures—9/11 and the yet-to-be-found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. It also explores the obstacles journalists now face and what the stakes are. At no time has covering the intelligence community been more demanding or more important, argues Gup. Ironically, the obstacles that face both reporters and intelligence officers are much the same. The paper closes with some suggested strategies and approaches gleaned from the most successful intelligence reporting.