Blog

Detroit Free Press — Enact national shield law

Detroit Free Press
March 18, 2008

Toni Locy makes a convincing case for enactment of a law that should not be necessary in a nation where freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution.

Locy is a former reporter who is facing fines of up to $5,000 a day fr

Detroit Free Press
March 18, 2008

Toni Locy makes a convincing case for enactment of a law that should not be necessary in a nation where freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution.

Locy is a former reporter who is facing fines of up to $5,000 a day from a federal judge for refusing to reveal the names of sources who likely had nothing to do with articles she wrote for USA Today about the 2001 anthrax attacks. She would not be in this unjustified predicament if Congress had followed the lead of 49 of the 50 states, including Michigan, and enacted a shield law enabling journalists to protect confidential sources.

The U.S. House approved the aptly named Free Flow of Information Act by an overwhelming 398-21 vote last fall. The Senate needs to follow suit. Given the value of confidential sources as so recently demonstrated by the Free Press in exposing Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's scheme to cover up lies he told under oath in court, Michigan U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow should be especially supportive. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Levin should also recognize that anonymous sources were instrumental in revealing scandalous hospital conditions for wounded Iraq war veterans.

Locy, now a college teacher, was hauled into court in a lawsuit filed against the U.S. government by a scientist who once was a suspect in the anthrax case. A judge has ordered Locy to reveal the sources for two stories she wrote. Seven years later, she says she can't remember exactly who they were and would have to reveal all her sources, possibly exposing people who were not involved to a legal fishing expedition.

So this case is folly on its face. But the underlying principle has, unfortunately, become necessary to reinforce in law. Sometimes, people with important information in the public interest will not come forward unless they can remain anonymous.

It's a system that has been proved valuable and worth protecting in law.

Archive

Contributors