What law protects reporters from revealing their sources?
Shield Laws
Shield laws are statutes that provide journalists either an absolute or qualified privilege to refuse to disclose sources used or information obtained in the course of news gathering.
Can a journalist be required to disclose their source?
Principle 3 states: “No journalist may be forced to reveal his or her sources of information.” Building on the Chapultepec Declaration, in 2000 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) approved the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression as a guidance document for interpreting Article 13 of the …
Is it illegal to own a shield?
Currently, the U.S. federal government has not enacted any national shield laws, but most of the 50 states do have shield laws or other protections for reporters in place.
Who qualifies as a journalist?
A journalist is someone employed to regularly engage in gathering, processing, and disseminating news and information to serve the public interest.
What does using confidential sources risk in journalism?
Using terms such as “confidential” sources probably doesn’t build much confidence, but the word “anonymous” or “anonymity” can hurt your credibility, and isn’t accurate from your standpoint. So consider avoiding those terms. Journalists using unnamed sources usually know the sources well.
How are journalists protected?
Roughly 30 states have passed statutes, called shield laws, allowing journalists to refuse to disclose or testify about confidential or unpublished information, including the identity of sources.
Is a riot shield a weapon?
The riot shield is designed primarily as a defensive weapon, though it can be used in an offensive manner when in direct contact with protesters. They are designed to be affixed to the non-dominant arm and held at a slightly inward angle to deflect thrown objects into the ground.
Can a journalist get in trouble for breaking a promise to a source?
You expect that by making this promise, your source will reveal confidential information to you. Cowles Media Co., 501 U.S. 663(1991), in which the Supreme Court held that it was okay to punish two reporters under the doctrine of “detrimental reliance” for breaking their promises.
What is the promise of confidentiality?
Often, the promise of confidentiality is as succinct as “All reports and disclosures you make under this Code of Ethics will remain confidential unless required to be disclosed by applicable law.” The company may believe that it is agreeing not to disclose the reporting person as the source of the disclosure.
Is it safe to be a journalist?
Journalists can face violence and intimidation for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression. The range of threats they are confronted to include murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking, offline and online harassment, intimidation, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture.