(2005-12-29) — The National Security Agency (NSA), accused in recent weeks of violating privacy by eavesdropping on American phone calls and emails, monitoring phone network traffic and placing ‘cookies‘ on personal computers of website visitors, today denied a new report in The New York Times alleging that the spy agency monitors major U.S. news organizations.

Experts say the allegation, if true, would likely have a chilling effect on the American news coverage.

“If reporters knew that agents of the federal government were literally reading their printed words or listening to their broadcast reports, it would be a blow to freedom of expression,” said an unnamed spokesman for the Society of Professional Journalists. “It’s a gross violation of the relative privacy reporters have enjoyed thanks to dwindling circulation and audience-share figures.”

An NSA spokesman simply said, “Does anyone still read The New York Times?”

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