Reporters' Privilege
Reporter's privilege in the United States (or sometimes journalist's privilege), is a "reporter's protection under constitutional or statutory law, from being compelled to testify about confidential information or sources." It may be described in the US as the qualified (limited) First Amendment right many jurisdictions by statutory law or judicial decision have given to journalists in protecting their confidential sources from discovery.
The First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuits have all held that a qualified reporter's privilege exists. Furthermore, forty states and the District of Columbia have enacted shield laws protecting journalists' anonymous sources.
Read more about Reporters' Privilege: Department of Justice Guidelines, Judith Miller Brings Reporter's Privilege To The Forefront of Media Attention, Congressional Proposals, See Also
Famous quotes containing the word privilege:
“Men will not give up their privilege of helplessness without a struggle. The average man has a carefully cultivated ignorance about household matters—from what to do with the crumbs to the grocer’s telephone number—a sort of cheerful inefficiency which protects him better than the reputation for having a violent temper.”
—Crystal Eastman (1881–1928)