March 15, 2007 | Sex & Society

Reporter paid teen before writing story

In December 2005, The New York Times published the story of 18-year-old Justin Berry, a teenager who had been performing for years  on a network of teen-run webcam sites when journalist Kurt Eichenwald discovered, rescued and wrote about him. It was a fascinating article which exposed  older men who were exploiting the youth.  But equally interesting was the relationship Eichenwald himself developed with Berry as he helped him out. Now, in court testimony, Eichenwald has admitted that he gave  Berry $2,000 and "forgot" to tell the Times about the payment. 

The facts presented themselves last week, according to Slate, when the Times published an editor's note revealing that Eichenwald had sent Berry a $2,000 check prior to writing about him -- a big no-no for reporters. Details of the payment emerged in the trial of a Michigan man -- at which Eichenwald was called to testify -- who was accused of sexual misconduct with minors. Neither Eichenwald's readers nor his editors were aware that he had paid his source.

"The check should have been disclosed to editors and readers, like the other actions on the youth's behalf," the paper wrote in its note, referring to a sidebar published with Eichenwald's story in which he disclosed his relationship to Berry and the assistance -- including getting him a doctor and a lawyer -- he provided him. His check was not mentioned.

Eichenwald, who now works for Portfolio magazine, insists that if Times editors had had their way, nothing at all about his relationship with Berry would have been disclosed.

"The editors of The New York Times argued incessantly that we shouldn't disclose anything," Eichenwald testified, according to New York Magazine. They compromised by publishing the sidebar online.

So why didn't that sidebar mention Eichenwald's $2,000 check? According to the reporter, he simply forgot to mention it. He sent the check as a private citizen before deciding to write about Berry, he says, and once he chose to write his story he asked Berry to return his money.

"I know I did unusual things, and if I should have disclosed what I did as a private citizen in more detail, so be it," Eichenwald told the Associated Press. "But put me through the same situation, I can't say I'd do anything differently."

• Through his webcam, a boy joins a sordid online world [Dec. 19, 2005 New York Times story - registration required]
  
• Eichenwald's weird checkbook journalism [Slate]
• NY Times acknowledges reporter's payment [Breitbart.com - AP]
• In testimony, Eichenwald explains how Justin Berry story made it into the Times [New York Magazine]