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Orlando Sentinel — Our take on: Shield law for journalists
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 08/18/2010 14:29:00
- In: Shield law editorials
Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel
August 13, 2010
Being informed
Journalists routinely uncover cases of waste, incompetence or corruption in governments or other powerful institutions because insiders are willing to spill the beans. But those insiders often are reluctant to have their names publicly revealed for fear of losing their jobs or having their reputations attacked.
Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel
August 13, 2010
Being informed
Journalists routinely uncover cases of waste, incompetence or corruption in governments or other powerful institutions because insiders are willing to spill the beans. But those insiders often are reluctant to have their names publicly revealed for fear of losing their jobs or having their reputations attacked.
Some of the worst government and corporate scandals of recent decades, from Watergate to Enron to Walter Reed, were blown open by sources promised confidentiality.
In recent years, however, journalists have come under growing pressure through court orders to disclose their confidential sources. If this trend continues, it could discourage insiders from speaking up for fear that the reporters they contact will reveal their names in the face of legal threats.
Recognizing this danger, members of Congress from both parties have worked for years to refine a proposal to shield journalists from being forced to reveal their sources. It would not apply when the government is seeking information that could stop a terrorist attack or prevent other damage to national security. It would not have protected WikiLeaks, the website that posted classified documents from the war in Afghanistan.
The U.S. House passed a federal shield law for journalists more than a year ago. A version in the Senate easily cleared a committee with bipartisan support in December but has not come to the Senate floor for a final vote.
With Congress planning to be in session for only a few more weeks this year, time could run out on a shield law unless senators make it a priority. Florida's Democrat Bill Nelson, a shield-law supporter, and Republican George LeMieux should add their names to this proposal's bipartisan list of co-sponsors and push their party leaders for a vote to pass it.
The free flow of information to the public, and accountability for government and other powerful institutions, are at stake.