Journalist Kurt Eichenwald is making news again over his 2005 New York Times reporting about child pornography on the Internet, says Slate.com. A Times Editors’ Note this week says Eichenwald gave a $2,000 check to former child-porn performer Justin Berry, the primary subject of the big story. Reporters aren’t supposed to give money to sources, and Eichenwald didn’t tell his editors about the transaction.
The Times said this week that the $2,000 check from Eichenwald to Berry “emerged” as part of proceedings in a trial of a Michigan man accused of criminal sexual conduct involving minors. Eichenwald, who now works for Portfolio magazine, has been called to testify in these proceedings. Journalist Debbie Nathan, in a report from the Michigan trial for New York magazine’s Web site, said Eichenwald d testified that he volunteered to send Berry $2,000 after reading an online post “offering Justin for sale to the highest bidder for the night.” He was concerned that Berry was underage.