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Herald-Zeitung — Shield law will protect press, government

Herald-Zeitung, New Braunfels, Texas
Oct. 14, 2007

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are scheduled to vote Tuesday on HR 2102, the Free Flow of Information Act, commonly referred to as a shield law. Federal lawmakers are taking up this important issue, for which p

Herald-Zeitung, New Braunfels, Texas
Oct. 14, 2007

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are scheduled to vote Tuesday on HR 2102, the Free Flow of Information Act, commonly referred to as a shield law. Federal lawmakers are taking up this important issue, for which protections already exist in the District of Columbia and 33 states, not including Texas.

A shield law protects reporters from being compelled to reveal confidential sources. Such protections are crucial to preserving an important channel of communication between anonymous government officials and the press.

Without them, citizens and government officials may be deterred from disclosing important information to the press.

Passing a federal shield law is an aid to good government. If good employees in government can't confidently speak out against wrongdoing within government, then taxpayers are being cheated. Not having a shield law protects bad government.

According to the National Newspaper Association, more than 40 reporters and media companies have received subpoenas in the last few years, including a recent privacy lawsuit wherein eight media companies were subpoenaed for their reporters' notes, emails, and phone logs to determine their confidential sources in covering the anthrax scare in 2001.

Without assurances of anonymity, sources within government can't be confident coming forward to journalists with information that is of great importance to the public for fear they will be publicly named.

The bill, too, would free journalists from the threat of subpoenas seeking their sources and allow a key channel of communication to remain intact. Information about wrongdoing in government will reach the ears of the general public as well as the proper enforcement authorities.

Contact information for Congressmen Lamar Smith and Henry Cuellar are listed on these pages. Join us in urging their support for HR2102 when it goes before the house on Tuesday.

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