CNN says it won't fire Novak [View All]

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http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000980454

CNN Says It Won't Ax Columnist Novak Over Plame Link

By E&P Staff

BEVERLY HILLS Robert Rivard, editor of the San Antonio Express-News, wrote in a column Sunday, "Robert Novak, a conservative syndicated columnist, publishes the name of a CIA operative and yet continues life as a talking head on cable television. The big scoop sitting right in front of him — the story of his own motives and comportment in this soap opera — is one he would rather not touch."

CNN apparently doesn't see it quite that way. Later Sunday, executives at the TV news channel said Novak's status there would remain unchange while the federal Plame probe continues.

"I think we're all aware that no one really knows what's going on in the investigation of the Valerie Plame incident," said Jonathan Klein, president of CNN/U.S. "So it would be awfully presumptuous of us to take steps against a guy in his career based on second, third, fourth-hand reporting."

Klein also hailed Novak as "one of the most outstanding political reporters this country has ever known."