When was the shield law passed?
When the shield law was first passed in 2008, it included a sunset clause that would have caused the law to expire on June 30 had the Legislature not extended it this term.
What is the press shield law?
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, with permission from the Associated Press) 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.
What is shield law and why are they necessary and important to discovering and reporting on key issues?
California’s shield law is set out in California Evidence Code section 1070, and it protects journalists (defined to include publishers, editors, reporters, or other persons employed by a journalistic organization, whether their work is in print, radio, or television) from being held in contempt for refusing to “ …
What states have shield laws?
State shield statutes & leading cases
- Alabama. Alabama’s shield law provides an absolute privilege to journalists working in the fields specified by the statute.
- Alaska.
- Arizona.
- Arkansas.
- California.
- Colorado.
- Connecticut.
- Delaware.
When May reporters be protected from revealing their sources?
shield law, in the United States, any law that protects journalists against the compelled disclosure of confidential information, including the identities of their sources, or the forced surrender of unpublished written material collected during news gathering, such as notes.
What information did branzburg withhold from article?
Newspaper reporter Paul Branzburg of Kentucky refused to answer questions before grand juries regarding stories that he had authored and published involving illegal drugs.
In what ways do shield laws limit government regulation of the media?
What laws protect the media?
Media Law: Overview Freedom of the press is a fundamental liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution. As such, courts and legislative bodies have been hesitant to infringe upon the freedom of press.
Why are state shield laws Of concern to news reporters?
First, because individuals who might provide confidential or sensitive information to journalists are unlikely to do so unless their anonymity can be guaranteed, shield laws are essential to the practice of investigative journalism and thus to the existence of a free press, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Who is protected by federal shield law?
A shield law is legislation designed to protect reporters’ privilege. This privilege involves the right of news reporters to refuse to testify as to the information and/or sources of information obtained during the news gathering and dissemination process.