New York Times: Shield Law Compromise Would Protect Reporters and Bloggers
If the Obama administration passes these new shield laws, journalists would receive a new degree of protection. The new law wishes to protect journalists who choose not to reveal confidential sources from paying fines and even, imprisonment. The proposed shield law states that federal judges can halt a subpoena if they decide that the public interest of the news outweighs the government’s desire to find the source. Some argue that this law would give the media special privileges and could pose to be problematic if a journalist reveals anything concerning national security or criminal information.
As a budding journalist, I believe that this law should be passed, as journalists put their lives on the line in order to provide the public with news. I also believe that this law should be adhered to all over the world, as far too many journalists have been tortured or killed for their reportings.
