Celebrity came calling to The Daily Collegian in the spring when Judith Miller, the former New York Times reporter jailed for refusing to reveal the identity of a source, met with student and professional staff members.
Miller, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter, spoke to a group of nearly 50 Collegianaires March 31 as part of a two-day visit to Penn State. Patrick Parsons, Don Davis professor of ethics at the College of Communications, arranged for Miller's visit to the university and, through Collegian News Adviser John Harvey, her subsequent tour of the Collegian.
Accompanied by former New York Times National Editor David Jones ('54), a university trustee and former Collegian editor in chief, Miller asked more questions than she answered, preferring to use the opportunity to learn what college students were thinking and feeling. Gathering in the Collegian classroom, students talked with Miller about a variety of issues, including how to deal with sources.
In the summer of 2005 Miller was jailed for 85 days after she refused to testify before a federal grand jury investigating a leak involving, coincidentally, Collegian Business Division alumna Valerie Plame. It was later revealed the source Miller was protecting was "Scooter" Libby, chief of staff for the vice president. Miller never wrote a story revealing the identity of the former CIA agent Plame.
Prior to her chat, 2005-06 Editor in Chief Jennette Hannah led Miller on a tour through the Collegian facilities. Afterward the organization hosted a reception.
