President Barack Obama plans to sign this law. His administration is the first ever to support shield legislation for members of the media.-- The New York Times, Oct. 31, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/us/01shield.html?ref=politics; Oct. 1, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/us/01shield.html?ref=politics.
Thirty years after the fact, FBI agent, William Mark Felt, Sr. (Aug.17,1913-–Dec.18,2008), admitted in 2005 that he was the confidential source (Deepthroat) for Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, whose investigative reporting of the Watergate scandal won a Pulitzer Prize.
The 1976 movie, "All the President's Men," tells this true story that’s based on Bernstein and Woodward's 1974 book.
I don't understand this law. You did a good job on just giving us what we needed to know.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Chapter 20’s Newsgathering Issues, “33 states and D.C. have shield laws that specifically guarantee a journalist’s right to protect confidential sources or information.” And, that level of protection varies within these states, according to pp. 569, 571 of "Reporting for the Media (9th Edition)."
ReplyDeleteApparently, this becomes a big deal for reporters
1) during a trial when the facts from a source need credibility,
2) when a confidential source has revealed “unauthorized” classified government information,
3) during top national security concerns, and
4) when the investigators’ interests outweigh “the public interest in gathering news and maintaining the free flow of information.”
Since 2001, “at least 19 journalists had been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors for information about confidential sources and four had been imprisoned for refusing to comply,” Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., one of the prime sponsors of the bill, said in a related Sept. 30 article.
Also, “Congress has so far refused to pass a federal shield law,” the textbook stated at its printing in 2009. In contrast, “a version of shield legislation was approved by the House in March. But a similar bill has stalled in the Senate ...,” the Oct. 31 article said.
Laura, if you get a chance, these two stories, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/us/politics/31shield.html?hp and http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/us/01shield.html?ref=politics are worth reading.
I had to watch this movie in high school and I had no idea what was going on. I was not into it- but now I can see myself getting into it!
ReplyDeleteI didn't understand intitially your summary either, but after your explanation I did. I'm actually somewhat surprised that Obama would sign something like that.
ReplyDeleteI also liked your post and picture about the man who was the source from the Watergate scandal.
Grade: 10/10
ReplyDelete