January 21, 2005
(Updated) 'Portland Tribune' Asks Us To Reveal Our Sources
Paper Examining How We Obtained Advance Of City Club Report
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
Earlier today, we missed an email from a Portland Tribune reporter looking to speak to us regarding an item about our advance copy of the City Club of Portland's report on the Portland Development Commission. That report was released last Friday, but on the previous day we published an item based upon the copy we had obtained.
Later this afternoon, we spoke on the phone with that reporter. What we know so far is this: Someone (we don't know who) is claiming that the City Club of Portland's website was hacked, and the Tribune wanted to know where we got our advance copy of the report.
Taking the second point first, our only response to the Tribune was that we weren't going to answer any questions which amounted to a request that we reveal our sources. Pressed to at least indicate whether the source was "internal or external" we again refused to answer.
As for the first matter, it is unclear to us as of this evening whether or not someone specifically is accusing us of hacking the City Club of Portland website.
We sent email to Tim Krause, the City Club's communications coordinator, asking if when we opened up the Tribune next Tuesday we would see that the City Club of Portland was accusing us of committing a criminal act. In his response, Krause said that both he and Wade Fickler, the Club's research director, were "unaware of anything the Tribune was planning".
And that's where our understanding of the situation stands this evening. While we will continue to refuse to answer any questions about how we obtained the report twelve hours in advance of its release, we will say one thing in case what appears in the Tribune next week turns out to be a direct allegation aimed at us: We categorically deny engaging in any criminal activity, nor do we have any knowledge of any criminal activity.
Ultimately, however, what slays us the most about all of this is the not inconsequential irony inherent in being asked by a reporter to reveal our sources.
A final note: Prior to today, the only comment we've had regarding obtaining an advance copy of the report was a reader comment from one Tamsen Wassell of the City Club's research broad, who suggested that we were "morally stunted" for not mentioning how we obtained the report. Whether or not Wassell is somehow involved in what is developing into a Tribune item on all of this is something we suppose all of us will find out in Tuesday's paper.
Update
See the comments for a fuller explanation from City Club. Shorter more direct version: It now appears that it was the Tribune reporter who used the word "hack" to describe the situation being discussed, and not (says City Club) City Club.
Comments (5)
Jack Bog on 21 Jan 2005
You had the nerve to publish something negative about the PDC? And not on the schedule that the Old Boy Network would have preferred? Oh, my. You'll be banned from the Arlington Club. And watch out, the Sopranos may be coming to pay you a visit.
The One True b!X on 21 Jan 2005
Well, the report is mixed, not strictly negative. And the questions about my advance copy aren't coming from PDC, they're coming from somewhere inside City Club, the authors of the report.
myrln on 22 Jan 2005
City Club has a research "broad?" Oh, my.;-)
Wendy R-W on 22 Jan 2005
Easy,b!X.
No one at City Club or anywhere else that I know of is accusing you of a "crime." Here's the deal: We told stakeholders they could have the report no earlier than the publication date. So, we (and they) were surprised to find it posted a day early on your site. From the title of the pdf posted here, it appeared to have come off of our website. Of course, this is due, at least in part, to our lame security. When the Tribune reporter called me to ask about it, she used the expression "hack." I told her that was not the word I would use. The report was there, waiting to go live. We just didn't think that anyone would be so eager to get it as to go beyond the face of the website. Live and learn, I guess.
And, Jack, please, "old boy's network?" I'll give you middle-aged, but I'm no boy!
Jack Bog on 22 Jan 2005
Boys, girls -- hey, you did a great job calling the PDC out on its many er, um, interesting features.
But don't pick on b!X. He's a Portland treasure. He's advancing public discourse on important local issues in the great tradition of bhe City Club. Tighten up your own security if you must, but lay off an enterprising journalist -- a mostly pro bono one at that.