Scientologists hire three veteran journalists to investigate Poynter’s St. Petersburg Times

Washington Post
A Pulitzer winner, an ex-“60 Minutes” producer, and a former IRE executive director are taking the Church of Scientology’s money to examine the St. Petersburg Times’ conduct. Executive editor Neil Brown, who isn’t cooperating with the study, says he’s “surprised and disappointed that journalists who I understand to have an extensive background in investigative reporting would think it’s appropriate to ask me or our news organization to talk about that reporting while (a) it’s ongoing, and (b) while they’re being paid to ask these questions by the very subjects of our reporting.”