The New York Times was widely criticized for publishing leaked information and photos about the suicide bombing attack in Manchester. The British said the publication hurt the investigation and showed no respect for the families of the victims. The Times issued a statement saying their reporting was consistent with how they and other news outlets have reported terrorist acts across the world. The controversy highlights the differences between U.S. journalism and that of other nations. (The Guardian, May 28,2017, by Emily Bell)
Scott Shane of The New York Times, May 25, 2017, wrote that the differences are likely to persist. Shane quoted Steven Aftergood of the Project on Government Secrecy, “To sum up what distinguishes the United States in a nutshell: It’s the First Amendment. The concept of a free press has been integral to the American idea since its inception. That’s not true even of other democracies. The press here even has the right to be irresponsible, which it sometimes is.” Britain has a law giving the government power to punish both leakers and reporters if secrets are published.