BEAT THE PRESS?

Was Hazel O'Leary really behind the Energy Department's embarrassing decision to use an outside firm to size up journalists? The DOE secretary, who testified before two House subcommittees Friday, said she "knew little about the details of the system that was planned." O'Leary also insisted that the reports from Carma International, which was paid more than $43,000 in public money to rate press coverage of the Department, were not used to compile an "enemies list" or reward favorable coverage. At the same time, House staffers made public several internal memos that suggested DOE public relations staffers took Carma to heart. According to one from last May 12, DOE media specialists were told to develop a list of "problem publications and reporters." A followup memo says the task was "part of a direct request from the secretary and the assistant secretaries."