When you are reporting the news, one of the last things that may be on your mind is whether or not you will be going to jail for the information you have discovered. As journalists, we need to seek out all the information that allows us to report an unbiased, fact-based story. To get these facts, we need reliable sources. Unfortunately, sometimes the sources and information we have, are also wanted by authorities. So in times where we need to keep our sources confidential and protect ourselves, what does a journalist do?
Within in the last year, two reporters were faced with prison time when they would not release their source who had given them information regarding the Bay Area Laboratoy Co-operative (BALCO) case. The journalists had cited testimonies that were given to a grand jury about problems of drug use in baseball. A Shield Law is currently in the hands of the government, waiting to be approved. This law would make it legal for journalists to keep their sources private. It would further support the First Amendment's freedom of the press.
I think that the Shield Law is necessary for journalists. Journalists should be allowed to do their job without having to worry about the consequences of knowing information. As long as the information isn't harmful to national security or the public, journalists should be able to keep it confidential. If journalists were not allowed to keep sources private, no one would release information. The news would be kept quite because no one would want to get in trouble. Journalists should be able to report the facts and give all the information the public needs without compromising their sources. The SPJ code of ethics states that sources should be revealed when suitable for the situation.
SFGATE
Monday, October 8, 2007
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2 comments:
I agree that journalists should be able to keep their sources confident. There are some stories where sources may be hesitant for the reporter to release information as is. If reporters are required to release their sources information if asked, a problem will occur. I believe that future sources for a story would be hesitant to give out information for a story knowing that they may be revealed. Without sources a story has less credibility and appeal. With the shield law it will not only protect the source but the story as well.
I also agree that this bill should pass to protect journalists and their right to freedom of press. There would be much fewer stories and opinions if reporters could not confidentially tell their stories. I also think this bill needs to pass to make sure the citizens of this country are receiving their rights. If the right to freedom of press is under scrutiny it is only a matter of time before other rights are put under the spotlight, such as free speech altogether.
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