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House Approves Bill To Shield Journalists

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The Washington Post

Published: October 17, 2007

WASHINGTON - The House overwhelmingly passed federal protections for journalists pressured to reveal confidential sources Tuesday, as lawmakers from both parties backed legislation that advocates for the news media have sought for a generation.

Sponsors and supporters of the Free Flow of Information Act say it provides important federal safeguards against a growing trend toward calling journalists into court in order to unmask confidential sources. The District of Columbia and 49 states have versions of the protections but there are none in federal law.

The measure passed with a 398 to 21 vote. The Senate version of the bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 4 but has not been scheduled for a vote in the full Senate yet.

The bill protects news reporters from being legally compelled to reveal sources who have requested confidentiality, under most circumstances. The protections apply only to those persons who earn a significant portion of their livelihoods as journalists.

They do not apply in criminal investigations or prosecutions of leaks of classified information that significantly harmed national security, unless a judge rules that the public interest outweighs those concerns. Journalists involved in or witness to a crime are not protected.

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