Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Page updated at 10:34 AM
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
Editorial
Shield storytellers, sources
The Senate should pass a bill to protect reporters from revealing their sources on controversial stories about government mischief and corporate scandal.
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.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

This feature requires Flash 7.
Top video | World | Science / Tech | Entertainment
Best Northwest Employers
Vote for your favorite Northwest employers in the 2008 NWjobs People's Picks contest. Vote now.
- Questions linger after WSU Provost Steven Hoch leaves
- Kennewick reservist faces threats over landscaping
- Sarah Palin and the mean wink | Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist
- Fired official asked Palin about her car-seat use with son Trig
- UW Football | Program woes hinder recruiting
- Christine Gregoire: Smart, intense and struggling to woo voters
- Episcopal priest given ultimatum
- The first 100-mpg car
- McCain defends Obama
- Ore. woman pleads guilty to animal neglect, dies
- Questions linger after WSU Provost Steven Hoch leaves
- Sarah Palin and the mean wink | Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist
- Episcopal priest given ultimatum
- There's nothing wonderful about the nation's mortgage crisis | Guest columnist
- Sarah Palin's definition of patriotism taxes credibility | Thomas Friedman / Syndicated Columnist
- Poring over neighborhood wine bars | Nancy Leson | Restaurants
- WSU provost to return as professor — at $245,000 per year
- Kennewick reservist faces threats over landscaping
- McCain defends Obama
- Paradise rediscovered — new Mount Rainier visitor center opens
