Shield law

Shield laws are "laws which protect journalists from being forced to disclose confidential information in legal proceedings. These laws protect the rights of a journalist from revealing confidential sources, notes, or other unpublished information and may be applied in both criminal and civil hearings." 

There are currently no federal statutes pertaining to shield laws, and as such these laws are left up to the states to determine. 

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Shield laws/Australia
 * freedom of speech
 * I. Lewis Scooter Libby
 * Judith Miller
 * Matthew Cooper
 * Robert Novak
 * Sarah Olson
 * Treasongate

General

 * shield laws in the Wikipedia.
 * "A Guide to Journalists' Shield Law," Poynter.org.
 * "Struggling to Report: Federal Shield Law," Society of Professional Journalists.

Legislation

 * National Shield Law, 109th Congress, 2nd Session, March 2, 2006.

Articles & Commentary

 * "ASNE endorses national shield law," American Society of Newspaper Editors, July 6, 2005.
 * "NPPA Reiterates Need For A National Shield Law," National Press Photographers Association, July 7, 2005.
 * Howard Kurtz, "Justice Dept. Opposes Shield for Reporters," Washington Post (truthout), July 20, 2005.
 * "Journalists Push for Shield Law. Hearing Addresses Federal Protection From Revealing Sources," Bloomberg News (Washington Post), July 21, 2005.
 * Jennifer Harper, "Justice official slams federal shield bill," Washington Times, July 21, 2005.
 * Kimberly Wilmot Voss"Will lawmakers raise shields to protect bloggers? A heads up for bloggers and other independent journalists on the status of shield laws and constitutional protections -- or lack thereof," Online Journalism Review/USC Annenberg, October 13, 2005.
 * Katharine Q. Seelye, "Journalists Testify in Favor of Shield Law," New York Times, October 20, 2005.
 * Lisa Friedman, "Unshielded. Anti-media sentiment could jeopardize a national shield law for journalists," American Journalism Review, August/September 2006.
 * Kimberly Geiger, "California is the first state to ask for a national shield law. 49 states protect journalists, but not in federal courts," San Francisco Chronicle, August 23, 2006.
 * Editorial: "Don't blame (or punish) the messengers," Austin American-Statesman, December 12, 2006.