News Releases

Federal Shield Law Reaching Critical Point

After literally years of work by RTNDA and other journalism organizations, the possibility of a federal shield law is closer than ever.  This Thursday, we expect the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on S. 448: The Free Flow of Information Act. We also anticipate that those opposed to a federal shield law will introduce amendments that will significantly weaken the protections the legislation would afford us. NOW is the time for  RTNDA members and other journalists to contact their senators and let them  know how important this bill is to protect the rights of journalists, to urge them to support the bill as currently written, and to vote against any amendments that  would weaken S. 448.

A federal shield law would help journalists protect confidential sources.  Currently, most states already protect this right of journalists.  But federal lawmakers have been reluctant to grant the same protection from federal subpoenas and other action. This bipartisan effort would remedy that, changing many years of policy that worked against good reporting.

If you would take a few minutes out of your busy schedule between now and Thursday morning to contact your senator—especially if he/she is a member of the judiciary committee—you would add you voice to thousands of journalists in more than a dozen other journalism organizations fighting for this law.

The members of the judiciary committee are listed below. Please reach out as soon as possible to make your voice heard on behalf of RTNDA and working journalists everywhere.

Sincerely,

Stacey Woelfel, Chairman
Radio-Television News Directors Association

Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Ranking Member
Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
Edward Kaufman (D-Del.)
Richard Durbin (D-Ill.)
Charles Grassley (R-Iowa)
Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.)
Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
Al Franken (D-Minn.)
Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)
Arlen Specter (D-Pa.)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
John Cornyn (R-Texas)
Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman
Herb Kohl (D-Wis.)
Russell Feingold (D-Wis.)