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Related Statements/News |
Resources
Journalism Organizations that Support a Federal Shield Law
Introduction
— Christine Tatum: Federal shield would protect public's right to know [SPJ Reading Room]
— "The case for a federal shield law" by Irwin Gratz, SPJ President [SPJ News]
— "Anatomy of a Federal Shield Law: The Legislative and Lobbying Process by Robert D. Lystad, Baker & Hostetler LLP [PDF]
We need your voice. Help SPJ raise support for a federal shield law. Contact your state senators
and representatives
to let them know how important a federal shield law is to a free
press.
Contribute to the Federal Shield Law Campaign
In the last year, SPJ raised $30,000 to support a campaign for the passage of a federal shield law for journalists. The work to ensure passage of such a law is ongoing. Please join the Society in this effort.
To make a contribution using a credit or debit card, call SPJ today at 317-927-8000 ext. 200. Note that you would like to make a contribution to SPJ's Federal Shield Law Campaign.
To contribute by check, make the check payable to SPJ. In the "for" section of the check, clearly print "Federal Shield Law Fund." Mail checks to:
Society of Professional Journalists
3909 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
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Related SPJ Statements and News
— Free Flow of Information Act Talking Points
— SPJ News: Society's
position on anonymous sources
— From Quill magazine: Anonymous sources needed, but must be used with caution
— SPJ News: SPJ disappointed by Supreme Court failure to hear Miller and Cooper cases
— SPJ News: SPJ Joins Call for Federal Shield Law Legislation
"A federal shield law has become essential now that prosecutors appear less constrained about hauling journalists before courts and grand juries," said SPJ President Irwin Gratz, a radio news
anchor with the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. "Courts are proving little help either, setting aside the partial protections recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court in its Branzburg v. Hayes ruling."
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Other Resources about this issue
— Current text of the "Free Flow of Information Act": S. 1419 | H.R. 3233
— Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
— Government Secrecy vs. Freedom of the Press by Geoffrey R. Stone, Ronald K.L. Collins and Stephen I. Vladeck. Copyright (c) First Amendment Center 2007; reprinted by permission. [PDF; 1.5 MB]
— Leakers, Bloggers and Fourth Estate Inmates: The Misguided Pursuit of a Reporter's Privilege by Randall D. Eliason (reprinted by permission; first published in the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal) [PDF; 332 KB]
— Avalanche Or Undue Alarm? An Empirical Study Of Subpoenas Received By The News Media [PDF; 3.1 MB]
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Journalism Organizations that Support a Federal Shield Law
Society of Professional Journalists
— SPJ Joins Call for Federal Shield Law Legislation
Asian American Journalists Association
— Web site
Associated Press Managing Editors
— Web site
California First Amendment Coalition
— Web site
Investigative Reporters and Editors
— IRE supports federal shield law
The Newspaper Guild
— Guild rallies nationally to protest jailing, push for federal shield law
New York Financial Writers Association
— NYFWA President Calls for Federal Shield Legislation
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
— Reporters Committee statement on jailing of Judith Miller
Radio Television News Directors Association
— Supreme Court Decision Underscores Need for Federal Shield Law
— RTNDA Decries Sentencing of Reporter Judith Miller to Jail Term
— RTNDA Supports Legislators' Call for Federal Shield Law
National Association of Black Journalists
— NABJ Supports Federal Shield Law, Condemns Jailing of Journalists for Protecting Sources
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
— NAHJ Outraged by Imprisonment of New York Times Reporter Judith Miller
— NAHJ Calls Taricani Conviction An Attack Against Journalists' First Amendment Rights
National Press Photographers Association
— NPPA Reiterates Need For A National Shield Law
Newspaper Association of America
— Web site
UNITY: Journalist of Color
— Web site
Illinois News Broadcasters Association
— INBA Calls on Obama, Durbin For Federal Shield Law
Texas Association of Broadcasters
— Senate committee hears testimony on "shield law"
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Latest Updates
January 14, 2009: Letter from SPJ President Dave Aeikens to President-
Elect Barack Obama
"We ask you to follow through, when you become President, on the support you expressed for a federal shield law as a candidate." Read the complete letter [PDF, 68 KB]
July 30, 2008: Shield Law stalls in Senate
The Society of Professional Journalists is disappointed in the Senate’s vote today that stalled S. 2035, the Senate version of the Free Flow of Information Act, also known as the federal media shield law. Continue reading
July 16, 2008: SPJ President Clint Brewer's letter to Sen. John Cornyn's office urging support of S. 2035
In a letter to Matt Johnson, Sen. Cornyn's Judiciary Committee Counsel, Brewer urges the Senator to focus on the act of journalism rather than defining who is a journalist. Read the letter [PDF, 164 KB]
May 10, 2008: New York Times: From Places Unexpected, Support for the Press
“An unusual cast of conservatives has added momentum to a bill that would protect the confidentiality of reporters’ sources, even as the Bush administration has lobbied vigorously against the idea.”
Continue reading over at newyorktimes.com
May 5, 2008: Arlen Specter: Why We Need a Shield Law
“The importance of a free press is so woven into the fabric of our history that Americans often take it for granted. But when we observe fledgling democracies around the world, Americans can see just how essential a free media are to democracy — and how easily they can be chilled. If we are to have a free press, it is necessary to protect the relationship between journalists and trusted sources to whom journalists have promised confidentiality. For this reason, every state but Wyoming has established some form of reporters' privilege.”
Continue reading over at washingtonpost.com
April 4, 2008: SPJ leaders urge Bush Administration, Department of Justice to forego shield law legislation opposition
Leaders of the Society of Professional Journalists today urged members of the Bush Administration, the United States Department of Justice and members of the United States Senate to forego attempts to stifle the passage of S. 2035, the Free Flow of Information Act. To read the complete release, click here.
Related Links
— Dept. of Justice Office of Public Affairs Web site: Media Shield section
— FoxNews.com: Administration Launches Web Site Opposing Journalist Media Shield
— Associated Press: Media Shield Law Remains in Doubt
— Letters from Dept. of Defense urging members of the U.S. Senate to reject the Free Flow of Information Act (S. 2035) [PDF, 188 KB]
— Letters from Dept. of Homeland Security urging members of the U.S. Senate to reject S. 2035 [PDF, 2.6 MB]
— Letter from Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey and Director of National Intelligence J.M. McConnell urging Sens. Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell to reject S. 2035 [PDF, 416 KB]
Related Content
• U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg: Protect public's right to know
• Christine Tatum: Federal shield would protect public's right to know
• Sept. 20 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing recap
• The Federal Shield Law: What it is, why we need it and why SPJ is fighting for one
• Newsweek: You Shield Us, We'll Shield You
• SPJ Blogs: Showdown for federal shield looms
• SPJ Blogs: How to fight for the shield
• Media Coalition Applauds Reintroduction of Federal Shield Law [PDF]
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This committee is the watchdog of press freedoms across the nation. It relies upon a network of volunteers in each state organized under Project Sunshine. These SPJ members are on the front lines for assaults to the First Amendment and when lawmakers attempt to restrict the public's access to documents and the government's business. The committee often is called upon to intervene in instances where the media is restricted.
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