International Law

The case for protecting journalists

By Handakte

Afederal appeals court has come to the rescue of a journalist who faced financial ruin if she continued to shield her confidential sources from a scientist suing the federal government. That’s good news. But the only reliable protection for reporters who rely (usually reluctantly) on anonymous sources is a federal reporter’s privilege similar to those in two-thirds of the states.

Legislation in Congress to recognize such a privilege may have a better chance because of U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton?s heavy-handed attempt to force Toni Locy, a former reporter for USA Today, to violate a core ethical principle rooted in the 1st Amendment. At issue are sources on which Locy relied in reporting on the investigation into anthrax attacks that killed five people in 2001. Steven J. Hatfill, a Justice Department biowarfare expert who for a time was a “person of interest” in the investigation, is suing his former employer under the federal Privacy Act. (…)

Quelle: LA Times vom 13.03.2008

Full post as published by Handakte WebLAWg on March 14, 2008 (boomark / email).