[Davis Democrats] Shield journalists & whistleblowers-pass Federal Laws S.340&H.R.581-RALLIES WEDNESDAY NATIONALLY

[John Chendo]

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From: "Josh Silver, Executive Director" <list at freepress.net>
Reply-To: list at freepress.net
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 12:43:59 -0500 (CDT)
To: jac07 at dcn.org
Subject: Shield journalists and whistleblowers

Dear john c. chendo:

Last week, the Supreme Court refused to hear a case that could imprison two
reporters for refusing to reveal their anonymous sources to a federal
prosecutor investigating who leaked the identity of former CIA operative
Valerie Plame.

The decision deals a serious blow to the rights of journalists and to the
First Amendment. It has cast a chill over investigative reporters who
promise confidentiality to sources in exchange for sensitive information on
government wrongdoing.

Crucial information will not be made public without laws to shield
journalists from this sort of government inquiry. Forty-nine states have
such “shield laws” on the books or judicial precedent that recognizes a
reporters’ right to protect their sources. But there’s no protection for
reporters in federal court.

“The Free Flow of Information Act,” a bipartisan bill pending in the Senate
(S. 340) and the House (H.R. 581), would establish a federal shield.

Sign our petition to support a federal shield law protecting journalists and
their confidential sources.

Judith Miller of the New York Times and Matthew Cooper of Time magazine
could be sentenced to jail as soon as tomorrow. But the impact of their case
will be felt for much longer. All anonymous whistleblowers are at risk if
journalists face jail time for refusing to reveal their sources. Fearing
reprisal, whistleblowers will not come forward.

Without a federal shield law, matters of vital public importance will never
see the light of day. This isn’t merely bad for journalists. It’s dangerous
to our democracy. 

Please sign the petition urging Congress to pass S. 340 and H.R. 581.

Then forward along this message to everyone you know.

Onward, 

Josh Silver
Executive Director
Free Press
www.freepress.net 

P.S. The Newspaper Guild is holding RALLIES  TOMORROW to protest the jailing
of reporters and to promote a federal shield law. Events are planned for
Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dayton, Denver, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee,
Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Rochester, SAN JOSE, St. Louis, St. Paul and
Washington, D.C. Click here for more information.
<http://www.newsguild.org/>