The optimism we felt earlier this month about a federal shield law for journalists has been replaced by impatience.
The Free Flow of Information Act (S. 448) looked like it was back on track after the Obama administration, media organizations and members of the Senate who have been working on the legislation reached a compromise that balances national security with your right to know.
However, the act still is stuck in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It’s been on the committee’s executive agenda for seven months. With the White House now on board with the changes, what’s the holdup?
In 2007, the Senate Judiciary Committee followed with a 15-4 vote in favor of the bill. However, the full Senate never voted on the issue.
The committee is supposed to consider the bill again Thursday, but we’re in a wait-and-see mode. We hope it is brought up, and we hope that Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin votes yes on this legislation to provide limited protection to journalists who receive information from government whistle-blowers and other anonymous sources.
Illinois is one of 49 states that have media shield laws, but federal protection is needed for greater insurance.
The federal shield law is a valuable tool for journalists to keep the public informed about how its government acts.
This has been delayed for too long. It’s time for the bill to move forward.
Rockford Register Star
