The Spy Case of AP Correspondent William Oatis: A Muddled Victim/Hero Myth of the Cold War

Associated Press reporter William Oatis was sentenced to prison in Czechoslovakia after an espionage conviction in 1951. Though he became a Cold War hero and his plight triggered a national outcry, he is a shadow figure in journalism history. This study examines the muddled myth surrounding his trial and imprisonment; the reasons that his legacy has been obscured; and how everyday journalistic practices, particularly close cooperation with officials, can place foreign correspondents and others at risk.