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El Paso Times — Shield law: Protection necessary for public, media
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 09/08/2008 17:03:19
- In: Shield law editorials
El Paso (Texas) Times
August 26, 2008
U.S. senators straining to go home for summer recess recently failed to approve a media shield law. A shield law would afford some protection to reporters protecting the identities of confidential sources.
Such a law is nec
El Paso (Texas) Times
August 26, 2008
U.S. senators straining to go home for summer recess recently failed to approve a media shield law. A shield law would afford some protection to reporters protecting the identities of confidential sources.
Such a law is necessary for the free flow of information and the public's right to know what's going on.
Yet, on Friday, Attorney General Michael Mukasey and National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell said they'd recommend a veto from President Bush should the “Free Flow of Information Act” reach his desk.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff also have panned the bill.
All that does is raise suspicions that the government has things to hide (surprise, surprise!), things officials know would anger Americans and possibly bring about change -- change that might bring government affairs more into the sunshine where it should be.
Of course, there are classified matters that should remain classified. That's recognized.
But in the past few years there have been increasing efforts by government officials and courts to make reporters reveal their sources' identities.
Americans deserve to have transparent government. The best way to ensure that happens is to put a federal media shield law in place.
The opposition of high government officials is even more indication that a shield law is necessary.