Our view on your right to know: When reporters can't shield sources, the public loses out Oct 16, 2007
Critics claim shield laws are unnecessary, unfair or unwise. But do they want to scare off sources like those who helped expose scandals at Walter Reed, Abu Ghraib and elsewhere. (Yahoo News)
Measure to shield reporters' secret sources likely to pass Oct 15, 2007
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have enacted similar shield laws. More than 50 news organizations, including Gannett, owner of USA TODAY, support a federal shield law. (USA Today -- News)
FOLLOWING UP Oct 8, 2007
What happened: Progress is being made. A version of the shield law cleared the House Judiciary Committee last summer, then the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Senate committee approves bill to shield reporters from identifying sources in federal court Oct 5, 2007
In an opinion piece for the Washington Post, former Bush administration solicitor general Theodore B. Olson argued for the proposed federal law, saying state shield laws have worked well. The bill includes exemptions for cases in which investigators are tracking acts of terrorism in the U.S. and other countries. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
No reason not to testify Oct 4, 2007
We already have various journalists' associations claiming reporters can't be subpoenaed because of the First Amendment -- and that even if they can, state shield laws protect them from having to give testimony. Now we have members of Congress claiming they don't have to testify if they don't want to. (North County Times)
Senate panel takes up press shield bill Oct 4, 2007
In a companion piece in the Post, former Bush administration solicitor general Theodore B. Olson argues for the proposed federal law, saying state shield laws have worked well. "Reporters do not expect to be above the law," writes Olson, who represented some reporters in the CIA leak case. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Editorial Sep 19, 2007
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have shield laws in place in state courts. Sixteen others, Iowa included, recognize a privilege through court decisions. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Poor knowledge, but sadly, it's enough Sep 8, 2007
In my classes, eyes glaze over when I talk about Michael Harvey and Gerard McManus and the case for journalistic shield laws. There are yawns when I question whether Fairfax journalists should have pounced on the Kevin Rudd strip-club scandal first. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Will Congress shield the media? Aug 13, 2007
Following this ruling, 32 states and the District of Columbia adopted shield laws to protect reporters. In some, privilege is absolute. (Guardian Unlimited)
House Panel Approves Reporter Shield... Aug 2, 2007
(This version CORRECTS from 32 to 33 the number of states with shield laws. . (The Drudge Report)
more reader opinions Jul 20, 2007
" We also know from experience that serious and irrevocable harm can be done when media shield laws are not written to protect individuals against unwarranted invasions of privacy and companies from the illegal disclosure of proprietary information. As your own ombudsman has recognized when dealing with anonymous sources, there is a "danger of mischief on the part of sources who know they can escape accountability. Unless the media shield bill is structured properly, someone could intentionally... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Under attack Jun 28, 2007
Most state shield laws, like Florida's, require that authorities demand notes and records of journalists as a last resort. Too often, authorities are turning to journalists before eliminating all other sources. (Florida Times-Union)
Truth comes at a high price Jun 26, 2007
As the outcry from journalists, the Press Council and media companies has grown in recent months the Government has belatedly drawn up some limited shield laws ... If shield laws won't protect journalists such as Harvey and McManus from reporting public service leaks, you have to wonder what value they really have. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Call for law change after journos fined for protecting sources Jun 25, 2007
Today, the Victorian County Court ruled journalists were not above the law, and said the new Commonwealth shield laws for journalists do not apply in Victoria. Chris Warren, from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) says the current laws are inadequate. (ABC Online)
Whistle-stop war Jun 23, 2007
With no whistleblower laws to protect bureaucrats and no shield laws to protect journalists, this is where the Government's policy of plugging leaks at all costs was bound to lead ... Ruddock's proposals have been canned by several state attorneys-general, media organisations and the chairman of the Australian Press Council, Ken McKinnon, who declared shield laws "an essential element of our democracy" but slammed Ruddock's proposal: "It will be ineffective." ... These proposed shield laws would... (Sydney Morning Herald)
Journalist bill may benefit terrorists, House panel told Jun 15, 2007
" he asked. Lee Levine, who has represented many reporters subpoenaed by the government, said shield laws in 33 states and court rulings in 16 others have helped establish who qualifies for a reporter's privilege. "The courts haven't had a whole lot of difficulty figuring out who is really engaged in something that looks and smells like journalism, as opposed to people who are using it as a scam," Levine said. E -mail Zachary Coile at . This article appeared on page A - 6 of the San Francisco... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Tin-pot law no use in the search for the truth Jun 1, 2007
It didn't have to face any problems with shield laws or the first amendment because Apple subpoenaed the journalists' email records from their internet service provider and those records revealed the sources. Ultimately on appeal the subpoenas were overturned but there's no guarantee that here the final outcome would be so happy. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Caught on tape May 31, 2007
Forty-nine states have some type of protection for journalists, called shield laws, which keep criminal investigators from compelling reporters to turn over their notes or tapes, or from testifying unnecessarily. However, Wolf's case was in federal court, where there are no shield laws. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Feud threatens 'shield laws' for journalists May 17, 2007
The so-called shield laws which protect journalists from having to reveal their sources are being discussed nationally, and would require state-based legislation. Mr McGinty says until standards improve at The West Australian, he will not support the new laws. (ABC News Online, Australia -- Politics)
AG demands ethical, honest reporting May 17, 2007
Mr McGinty said he would support media shield laws in WA "in a perfect world" but had a problem with the editorial style of The West Australian newspaper's editor, Paul Armstrong ... "I would like to be able to support shield laws to protect journalists' sources," Mr McGinty told journalists ... "I think there's a problem there - I think it stems from the editor.Mr McGinty denied reports he would refuse to introduce media shield laws unless Mr Armstrong was sacked."No, that's not right. (Ninemsn)
United effort to save free speech May 10, 2007
Chris Merritt Legal affairs editor. THE nation's top media interests put aside their differences this morning and announced the formation of a coalition aimed at persuading governments and the courts to end the erosion of free speech. (The Australian)
Congressmen Propose Reporter Shield Law May 4, 2007
Although 32 states and the District of Columbia have reporter shield laws, the new legislation would create a federal standard for protecting journalists and their confidential sources. The legislation also protects information held by telephone companies, Internet services and other communications providers, that would otherwise reveal confidential sources. (MediaWeek.com)
Shield bill serves public May 3, 2007
Currently, 49 states (Wyoming is the only unenlightened one) have shield laws or operate under court rulings that grant journalists and their sources a privilege much like those afforded to clergy, lawyers and therapists. This protection applies only to local and state cases. (Scranton Times, PA)
Labor pledges to overhaul sedition laws Apr 29, 2007
Mr Debus said NSW was the only state to have laws protecting whistleblowers in the public service and so-called shield laws covering confidential sources. "The present Commonwealth laws concerning the protection of whistleblowers, the enforcement of appropriate freedom of information laws, the enforcement of sedition, are all archaic," he said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Column: Duke rape case shows why censoring names of victims is bad idea Apr 15, 2007
Kelly wrote on April 14, 2007 1:56 PM:"I do agree with much of your article. The Rape Shield laws are in place to prevent the victim from being victimized again in the court and the media. Sometimes just the name can change the perception of the victim in a community. The idea is good when used properly, and in many cases is a wonderful protection. However, filing a false police report and lying about the entire issue is totally different, and her name should be released for this criminal... (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
The Josh Wolf case: Blogger freed after giving video to feds Apr 7, 2007
California and most other states have shield laws, but they do not apply to proceedings in federal court. Federal prosecutors had sought Wolf's videos of the 2005 protest in San Francisco's Mission District in which a police officer suffered a fractured skull. (Yahoo News -- Media Issues)
Blogger Makes Deal, Is Released From Jail Apr 7, 2007
More than 30 states and the District have shield laws. He said on his blog, Joshwolf. (Yahoo News -- Media Issues)
* Latin American press freedom hurting: report Mar 19, 2007
Taipei Times - archives. Latin American press freedom hurting: report. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
A reporter's privilege?; Cheney and Al Qaeda; Congressional amnesia Mar 16, 2007
I can add another very good reason to steer clear of "shield laws." An exemption would turn journalists into a special privileged category, which could be exploited by those who wish to control the press. Shield laws could lead to a licensing system to determine who may and may not be a journalist, which obviously could be abused by authoritarian governments seeking to bar independent thinkers from practicing journalism. (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
Initiative shines light on FOIA Mar 16, 2007
More than 30 states have shield laws ... State shield laws pertain to all other sources within a state. (Conroe Courier, TX)
When you see a journalist working, consider ... Mar 15, 2007
Hawaii has established varying confidentiality privileges for journalists through their courts; and submitted to the United States Supreme Court, A federal policy that allows journalists to be imprisoned for engaging in the same conduct that these State privileges encourage and protect buck(s) that clear policy of virtually all states, and undermines both the purpose of the shield laws, and the policy determinations of the State courts and legislatures that adopted them. Cited from: freejosh. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Source anonymity considered Mar 11, 2007
" Lawmakers are still negotiating language in the bill and say one sticking point is concern over whether national security exceptions are too broad. Also at issue is whether bloggers should be protected. Some groups, including the ACLU, say bloggers working as reporters should also be protected. Creating a federal shield law has been debated for decades, said Aly Colon, who teaches ethics at the Poynter Institute. "Shield laws can be very important to journalists," he said, "because they... (USA Today)
House lawmakers will try to pass a federal shield law Feb 19, 2007
Thirty-two states, including California, and the District of Columbia have media shield laws, and 17 other states have recognized some form of privilege of confidentiality between reporters and their sources. But the protections do not cover reporters in cases in federal court. (Scripps Howard News Wire)
Congress should get going on a shield law for reporters Feb 18, 2007
Because in every one of these recent cases and in thousands of others over the decades, reporters have depended on the shield laws in 49 states to let the public know things that are otherwise hidden. Of course it's not simple, and balance is hard to achieve in complicated situations like these. (Lodi News Sentinel, CA)
House Dems back federal shield law Feb 17, 2007
" Thirty-two states, including California, and the District of Columbia have media shield laws, and 17 other states have recognized some form of privilege of confidentiality between reporters and their sources. But the protections do not cover reporters in cases in federal court. The shield law debate comes as high-profile journalists have testified under subpoena in the Washington trial of former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who is charged with lying about the disclosure of a CIA... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
BALCO Attorney Admits Guilt Feb 16, 2007
Williams, a veteran investigative reporter, said Wednesday, "I had resigned myself that I would probably have to go to prison." More important, he said, the case "has intimidated potential sources'' and has illustrated the need for a federal shield law that would allow journalists to protect confidential sources and unpublished material. California and most other states have shield laws, but they do not apply in federal court. "It stands to reason that if you have reporters worrying about going... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
'SF Chronicle' Reporter Says Paper Did Not Seek to Reveal Source in BALCO Case -- Declines To Confirm Name Feb 16, 2007
Although such shield laws or related court rulings provide reporters privilege in 49 states, no such protection is in place at the federal level. Congress is continuing to review such a proposal, but no formal action has been taken that would make it law. (MediaWeek.com)
Wyoming could be role model for rape case policy Feb 6, 2007
Anderson said she wrote the article because she worried that rape shield laws, typically designed in the 1970s and 80s, were not fully protecting rape victims from invasive and unnecessary scrutiny about their sexual lives. Rape shield laws have too often functioned as sieves that allow irrelevant information in, Anderson said. (Gillette News-Record, WY)
Protect free press with federal shield Jan 26, 2007
Many states embrace the spirit of the Constitution by protecting press freedom through shield laws that enable journalists to gather information without fear of government interference. Pennsylvania s shield law is one of the strongest. (Scranton Times, PA)
EDITORIAL: Ludicrous Libby trial Jan 22, 2007
Nevada journalists enjoy the protection of one of the strongest shield laws in the country. Reporters here cannot be compelled to reveal their sources to overzealous authorities, but that safeguard does not extend to federal proceedings. (Las Vegas Review-Journal -- Opinion)
Chronicle reporters urge appeals court to toss their jail time Jan 11, 2007
Most states have those so-called shield laws in place, but federal courts don't. The court filing also argues that the government didn't suffer any damages and that the reporters' coverage of the steroids scandal raised awareness of a severe problem plaguing professional sports and amateur athletics alike. (Fresno Bee -- State)
BALCO reporters ask judge to toss jail time Jan 11, 2007
Most states have those so-called shield laws in place, but there isnt a federal one right now. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Sports)
The Fourth Victim Jan 2, 2007
Rape shield laws do not protect her when other contemporaneous sexual acts might explain the physical evidence of sexual contact and of bruising. The defense attorneys will obliterate her, permanently painting her as the worst sort of nut and slut. (Fox News -- Views)
