The Free Flow of Information Act, a federal shield law that will be monumental for journalism if passed, will move one step closer to existence this Thursday when it is considered in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The latest version of the bill will provide protection for student journalists, as well as bloggers and any other individuals attempting to gather information for the public. The new bill was drafted and approved by lawmakers, President Barack Obama’s administration and media organizations.
The bill will provide an important shield for student journalists, who are often more vulnerable than their professional counterparts.Student-run news organizations usually work with a small budget and do not have the legal support that a major media organization does. But those journalists are still writing about important topics and often face backlash from administrators, when topics that bring negative attention to the University are covered.
New language in the bill allows varying levels of protection for journalists, based on whether a case is a criminal case or civil case, and whether the case has implications on national security.
Currently shield laws vary by region, so a federal law could allow journalists the ability to tackle serious issues without fear of retaliation on a civil or criminal level. The bill states that if the public interest in news gathering is stronger than the need to reveal a source, a federal judge could throw out a subpoena against a journalist.
The freedom of the press to dig deep into important stories is one that is frequently tested, especially at the student level. Recently at Northwestern University, prosecutors subpoenaed the grades, notes and witness interviews of student journalists who uncovered new evidence reportedly showing that a convicted murderer was innocent.
In 2007, at nearby Quinnipiac University, students at The Chronicle were forbidden from publishing articles online before they appear in print after a controversial story was published on the arrest of basketball players. That decision led to the creation of an online-only newspaper, The Quad News.
At Fairfield, the issue of freedom of speech was brought to the forefront following the controversial “He Said” article published in The Mirror on Sept. 30. In that case, a potential disciplinary ruling against the writer, Chris Surette, would serve as a form of censorship. Although it was an opinion piece, it is still important for writers to express opinions and share information without fear of reprisal.
In a time when journalism is dealing with tough economic times, it is pleasing to see that the Obama administration is willing to help continue the journalistic tradition of providing a watchdog for the people. With newspapers suffering, a new breed of journalists is developing in schools and on blogs, and it is time for those writers to find the legal protection they deserve.
It is important for the Senate to move this bill forward so that journalists can continue to freely provide information essential to the public without fear.
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