Media The games newspapers shouldn't play

A "SENIOR administration official" paid a visit to The Chronicle not long ago. I'd tell you the name, but that would be wrong. The paper agreed in advance not to identify this top White House representative. A deal is a deal, so I'm duty-bound to clam up.

What's not so certain is whether the deal was good for readers.

There are valid reasons to let someone talk on background. Sometimes sources need protection: People lose their jobs for talking to newspapers. They get harassed, assaulted, even shot. That wasn't likely in this case.
· Senior administration officials don't drop by newspapers to rat out their boss [ LosAngeles]