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SPF 7-855 CVWB/cmp that we were taking no action that might in any way jeopardize the victim's life, and that this was standard procedure in any kidnapping cuse. Later that evening I received a call from one of the newsmen in town saying that the AP had taken some of my quotes out of context and had related them to the HEARST case. I called the AP and told them that they were taking it out of context and they asked me to tell them in detail what my comments related to. I did this. They then said they would wut out a correction. As everyone knows, a correction never catches up with the original erroneous story. I am in complete accord with the Director's "open stance” policy with the news media and am absolutely convinced that this will benefit the Bureau and its relations with all of the news media as well as the general public. tlowever, we must all accept the fact that in such a policy with the media, there will be occasions when Bureau representatives will be misquoted or their quotes taken out of context. If do not feel that this is a basis for changing our position but it is merely a fact of life with which we have to live. By and large, I feel that the coverage in the HEARST case has been good. I think the FBI has benefited. We have not revealed the investigative techniques, we have not dis- closed the identities of persons interviewed, and we have been guided by the Department's instructions when dealing with the news media. When this case is finally successfully concluded, I would like to discuss in detail some of the problems which exist with the press in such a case. This case is particularly unique because a member of the press is directly involved. In this case and in other major cases, hundreds of media representatives are conducting their own investigation. There is no reason to belkve that they can't find out infor- mation as well as the FBI; in some ways, it is easier for them. As far as the strain on the office itself, it would be much easier to take a completely no comment stand but here again I do not believe this is proper. We have had a number of instances in this case where media representatives from all over the country have called and furnished us infor- mation, saying they did not intend to print it but they wanted to be helpful to us. This information has been taken and has been run out and, as of the present, nothing of pertinence has developed. -2- TRE ote ‘> ~ - -o¢ a 7 . ~. ~ » oo” _- - - * -_ ae A ATS . “ ow My , cS “ . . ve _ + - ~ - al - ~ = ee ~ -~ 7 . .