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Chicago Tribune — Should Congress pass a shield law for journalists? YES
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 10/16/2007 14:24:02
- In: Shield law editorials
Chicago Tribune
Oct. 13, 2007
Much of what journalists report every day consists of things the government wants to keep secret - sometimes for good reasons, but sometimes not. Without such information, the public would be far less informed about matters of importance to the na
Chicago Tribune
Oct. 13, 2007
Much of what journalists report every day consists of things the government wants to keep secret - sometimes for good reasons, but sometimes not. Without such information, the public would be far less informed about matters of importance to the nation as a whole and the lives of its individual citizens.
So when Congress considers legislation to protect reporters from being forced to divulge their sources to the government, it's not so much the interests of the press that are at stake as the fundamental needs of democracy.
The good news is that Congress is considering such action. Recently the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure to grant journalists substantial protection against being compelled to identify their confidential sources.
This approach is nothing to be afraid of. It mirrors the existing guidelines of the Justice Department, which have been in effect for 35 years. It also follows the lead of 49 states that have furnished some type of protection for journalists.