Tim Russert colleague fired for leaking story

This blurb comes from the Telegraph and is a cautionary tale of spreading sensitive information without authorization.

 

The station decided to delay reporting the popular anchor man’s death until his family had been contacted. Other U.S. news networks who had been alerted to the story also agreed to hold back.

But within minutes of the 58-year-old’s heart attack the news had spread across the internet, after his Wikipedia page was altered to mention his passing.

Mr Russert’s entire entry on the free encyclopedia – which is compiled by members of the public – was rewritten in the past tense.

The change was made at 3.01pm, nearly 40 minutes before NBC announced the news to its viewers. NBC staff were “flabbergasted” when they noticed, according to a spokeswoman

The Telegraph, 24 Jun 2008

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