Congress Considers Journalist Shield Law

[Leo The Cleo]

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/feb/Congress-Considers-Journalist-Shield-Law.html

New legislation has been introduced in Congress that could protect journalists when they are asked to reveal confidential sources for federal investigations. Most states have “shield laws” similar to the proposed Free Flow of Information Act, but state shield laws offer protection to reporters only when it comes to local and state jurisdictions.

Proponents of a national shield law believe that such protection is necessary for confidential sources to continue providing important information to journalists. Dave Aeikens, president of the Society of Professional Journalists, told Fox News: “The public needs to be able to give information to the media without fear of retribution. We think that too often that the government has been coming to journalists as the first resort rather than the last resort.”