New York Times editor to speak at YWCA Leader Luncheon

By Chris Green

Rockford Register Star

ROCKFORD - New York Times national security reporter James Risen is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and book author.

He is also facing incarceration.

Risen is being pressured by the U.S. Department of Justice to reveal the identity of an anonymous CIA source.

The case is now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The importance of a free press is one area New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson will discuss next month in Rockford when she serves as the keynote speaker of the YWCA Leader Luncheon XXXIV: Women of Achievement.

"The public needs information and understanding and to be reminded that the first leaders of our country fervently believed in a free press where the government could not tell the press what it could publish," she said. "They felt this was important in the democracy they were building.

"It's healthy to go out and speak and remind people this."

Abramson, a former Washington Bureau Chief and first female executive editor of the Times, made headlines across the country after a January interview with Al Jazeera. She called the Obama administration "the most secretive White House that I have ever been involved in covering."

Abramson said since 9/11, it has become increasingly difficult to keep the public informed about government activities because of an increasing number of criminal leak investigations launched by the justice department, which inevitably snare journalists.

Sources often express reservations in speaking to journalists, Abramson said, "even if they are sharing information that they believe is in the public's interest."

The Leader Luncheon is the YWCA of Rockford's primary fundraising event. Proceeds from the event are used to develop and expand programming and advocacies for women and families' economic self-sufficiency with a commitment to eliminate racism and empower women.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

If you go

What: YWCA Leader Luncheon XXXIV: Women of Achievement

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 3

Where: Giovanni's Conference Center

Cost: YWCA members, $50

Non members, $55

Table of 10: $550

For tickets: Register to attend