[foobarqux]

You are wrong. It's not the press pass it is access to the "unnamed high ranking official" that "leaks" you stories that sell your paper. Not only do you not have breaking stories you don't even have sourced stories. Imagine if WaPo had to write things like "the NYT is reporting...". That's a death knell.

And what do you complain about? That the government is not leaking you information anymore? That anonymous sources aren't taking your calls?

[ams6110]

There are at least two types of "unnamed high ranking" leakers.

One is deliberately leaking the story line that the administration wants published, but for whatever reason doesn't want to be directly quoted on.

The other is the conscientious leaker, who wants to get the truth out but fears for job/safety if he went "on the record."

The former can be directed to "leak" only to favored media outlets. The latter cannot.

[foobarqux]

And the majority of stories deal with the former.

[pdkl95]

Those "anonymous sources" are included. Such sources will be glad to have important things reported on. Any that would cut you off for reporting the truth or deviating from their "story" are not a source of reliable information anyway.

What will be reported on? In a case like this, the run with the information they have.... from Snowden. If the government decides it doesn't want to tell it's side of the story (officially or unofficially through "sources"), then they let the accusations stand without a challenge.

Oh, and you may remember a time when journalists got their own information ("investigation"), instead of relying on PR offices.

I am constantly amazed how the government (and many big businesses) get away with this obvious bluff. There is simply no way they would withdraw from the public debate.