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Updated:
Monday, October 19, 2009
Published: Oct. 19, 2009 |
NABJ renews call for Federal Shield Law
October 13, 2009
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C.
Dear President Obama:
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is renewing its call for passage of a Federal
Shield Law to protect journalists from prosecution for not revealing confidential sources. NABJ,
consistent with its values and history, supports the Free Flow of Information Act pending in
Congress to bring federal protections for journalists in line with what many states have long
provided.
The law has been sitting in Congress for years and is now stalled because Senators from both parties
and the White House fear the current version could threaten national security.
A federal shield law recognizes the media's constitutional mandate as a watchdog by extending to
journalists protections vital to fulfilling their duties. Far from creating special privileges for
journalists, such a law would give them protections comparable to those traditionally granted by
statute, common law.
This law is especially important for investigative reporters who rely on information provided by
people who are not necessarily authorized to release it. The information usually leads to stories that
are not flattering to the organizations, which is why they do not want it released (i.e. Watergate,
Pentagon Papers and Walter Reed Hospital).
Recently, the Chauncey Bailey Project in Oakland, Calif. uncovered serious problems with the
police investigating the murder of Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey. NABJ Vice President-
Broadcast Bob Butler was part of this award-winning investigative reporting team. Their work led to
the resignation of the Oakland police chief and the eventual indictment of three murder suspects.
The project was able to get information from law enforcement and legal sources who would not
have come forward if the journalists had not guaranteed their anonymity. The Bailey project
reporters assured them that California’s shield law meant no court could compel them to identify
their sources.
Thirty-five other states and the District of Columbia currently have shield laws to protect journalists,
but there is no protection in federal courts.
NABJ understands our elected leaders in Washington want to protect national security. NABJ
encourages Congress and the White House to find common ground on a Federal Shield Law that
will safeguard the media’s role as a watchdog, which is vital to a strong democracy.
Sincerely,
Kathy Y. Times
NABJ President
kytimes@nabj.org |
