Shield storytellers, sources

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he wants to bring the federal reporter shield law to a vote before the Senate recesses in August. It's about time.

In October, the House overwhelmingly approved the Free Flow of Information Act by a vote of 398-21. But the bill was stalled in the Senate by Republicans citing national-security concerns.

The bill actually is not so much to protect the storytellers as to protect their sources, the people who have important stories to tell about government mischief or corporate scandal.

Bill co-sponsor Washington Sen. Patty Murray is working to move this overdue bill along. Most states have a shield privilege either by law or court ruling — Washington's passed in 2007. The National Association of Attorneys General, on behalf of 42 of its members, sent a bill to Senate leadership urging a vote.

In recent months, Senate negotiators have reached compromises to give a qualified privilege to journalists to keep their sources confidential in most circumstances. Proposed exceptions would be when information has to do with acts of terrorism or other significant harm to national security, eyewitness observations of a crime and if the information could prevent a death, kidnapping or substantial bodily harm.

The wisdom of the bill is that it would put a judge in charge of determining whether the privilege applies. Now, there is no federal standard for reporter's privilege — except what is determined by the U.S. Justice Department, which opens the door for all kinds of self-serving political mischief.

The senators should follow the states and, finally, pass this bill.