By Laurie Kellman
The Associated Press
May 18, 2006
Excerpt:
Senators began a new effort to pass a
media shield law Thursday, re-introducing legislation they said would
protect journalists from being sent to jail for refusing to reveal
their sources in most cases.
The bill, re-written with guidance from more than 30 news organizations including The Associated Press,
drew new support after changes that could force reporters to disclose
sources if they witnessed a crime or obtained information deemed secret
by law.
"There has been a deadlock on improving the shield law for the very
reason that not all disclosures by government officials to members of
the press are equal," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., announcing he
was supporting the bill for the first time.
"We need to protect the press, especially with a big, large government
that keeps things secret more and more," Schumer added. "We also have
to have some respect for the fact that there are certain things that
shouldn't be made public by statute."
