Shield law

Shield laws are "laws which protect journalists from being forced to disclose confidential information in legal proceedings. These laws protect the rights of a journalist from revealing confidential sources, notes, or other unpublished information and may be applied in both criminal and civil hearings." [1]

There are currently no federal statutes pertaining to shield laws, and as such these laws are left up to the states to determine. [2]

Related SourceWatch Resources

• Shield laws/Australia
• freedom of speech
• I. Lewis Scooter Libby
• Judith Miller
• Matthew Cooper
• Robert Novak
• Sarah Olson
• Treasongate

External links

General

• shield laws in the Wikipedia.
• "A Guide to Journalists' Shield Law," Poynter.org.
• "Struggling to Report: Federal Shield Law," Society of Professional Journalists.

Legislation

• National Shield Law, 109th Congress, 2nd Session, March 2, 2006.

Articles & Commentary

• "ASNE endorses national shield law," American Society of Newspaper Editors, July 6, 2005.
• "NPPA Reiterates Need For A National Shield Law," National Press Photographers Association, July 7, 2005.
• Howard Kurtz, "Justice Dept. Opposes Shield for Reporters," Washington Post (truthout), July 20, 2005.
• "Journalists Push for Shield Law. Hearing Addresses Federal Protection From Revealing Sources," Bloomberg News (Washington Post), July 21, 2005.
• Jennifer Harper, "Justice official slams federal shield bill," Washington Times, July 21, 2005.
• Kimberly Wilmot Voss"Will lawmakers raise shields to protect bloggers? A heads up for bloggers and other independent journalists on the status of shield laws and constitutional protections -- or lack thereof," Online Journalism Review/USC Annenberg, October 13, 2005.
• Katharine Q. Seelye, "Journalists Testify in Favor of Shield Law," New York Times, October 20, 2005.
• Lisa Friedman, "Unshielded. Anti-media sentiment could jeopardize a national shield law for journalists," American Journalism Review, August/September 2006.
• Kimberly Geiger, "California is the first state to ask for a national shield law. 49 states protect journalists, but not in federal courts," San Francisco Chronicle, August 23, 2006.
• Editorial: "Don't blame (or punish) the messengers," Austin American-Statesman, December 12, 2006.