Hawaiian state legislators are considering two bills that would restrict reporters’ privileges to keep sources and notes confidential. The Senate bill removes shield protection from bloggers unless they work for traditional media outlets. The bill would not provide protection for unpublished stories and notes. (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFOP), April 22, 2013, by Jack Komperda)
“If passed, the amendments would provide one of the weakest protections for journalists and their sources in the nation and do more harm than good in advancing public discourse on important public issues in Hawaii. Passing such a diluted version of the state shield law shows a disregard for the important principle that journalists must be free to work independently of the judicial process, ignores the public interest in a reporter’s right to keep information confidential, and dismisses the very real chilling effect on the public’s receipt of information on important controversies,” writes Bruce D. Brown of the RCFOP. (Hawaii Reporter, April 21, 2013)
Citing a Colorado judge’s threats to levy contempt penalties against a Fox News reporter for refusing to reveal a confidential source, David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey, Wall Street Journal, April 21, 2013, argue that now is the time for a national shield law, “News must often be gathered from confidential sources, or not at all. Given how vital is the freedom of the press in a democracy, that confidentiality must be maintained. It is time that Congress recognize this and enact legislation that enables journalists to protect their confidential sources and newsgathering materials.” -db