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Daily Record – Cheers for new 'shield law'
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 10/30/2007 14:52:26
- In: Shield law editorials
Daily Record, Parsippany, N.J.
Oct. 23, 2007
It hardly got the attention of the failure to override the president's veto in regard to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, but another vote in the House last week is worthy of comment.
By a ratio of 398-21, t
Daily Record, Parsippany, N.J.
Oct. 23, 2007
It hardly got the attention of the failure to override the president's veto in regard to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, but another vote in the House last week is worthy of comment.
By a ratio of 398-21, the House backed creating a "shield law" for journalists. This would prevent reporters from having to identify confidential sources in federal cases.
New Jersey law already extends that protection to journalists, but that has no bearing on the federal level. We have seen journalists prosecuted and even jailed for refusing to identify sources in recent high-profile cases involving Scooter Libby and Barry Bonds. A federal shield law is needed to prevent that.
We're glad that all 13 New Jersey House members supported the law last week, irrespective of party. It now will be considered by the Senate.
While this is a law for journalists, it serves the public interest by promoting the dissemination of as much news and information as possible.