The U.S. Senate's delay of a federal shield law is hurting the American public, says the Society of Professional Journalists. Delays in passing S. 448, the Free Flow of Information Act, "continue to place U.S. journalists at risk of heavy civil fines and imprisonment," SPJ writes in a news release. "That leads to reluctance to investigate stories and ultimately is a disservice to the American public and an open, democratic society." The bill would prohibit the enforcement of federal subpoenas against reporters who refuse to identify their confidential sources in certain circumstances.
"We are rapidly closing in on the end of this congressional session, and we remind the senators that U.S. journalists have an expectation that this bill will be resolved," SPJ President Kevin Z. Smith said in the release. "After years of advocacy for this bill, we are close to a resolution, and we have hammered out what should be the last points of contention. We strongly encourage senators to allow a vote." He continued, "Delaying or killing this bill isn’t just a blow to journalists covering the federal government; it’s a blow to the American people who will see fewer stories about their government. Unprotected sources don’t generally share information with the media. Killing this bill is a win for secrecy in government." (Read more)
No comments:
Post a Comment