著者

立花 顕一郎

出版者

東北文化学園大学

雑誌

総合政策論集 : 東北文化学園大学総合政策学部紀要 (ISSN:13468561)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.5, no.1, pp.15-24, 2006-03-31

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Members of U.S. Congress have been engaged in a debate over whether to pass a federal media shield law. If passed, the law will give reporters a privilege to avoid disclosing their sources and confidential information. Journalists insist that such a law is necessary for them to serve their critical role as a watch dog on the U.S. government without fear of retribution. The debate has heated up after a Time Magazine reporter accepted a grand jury request for disclosing his source: a high-ranking government official who leaked the name of a CIA undercover officer. The debate may not end anytime soon because opponents argue that the law will corrupt the media. This paper scrutinizes the merits and demerits of the shield law.Members of U.S. Congress have been engaged in a debate over whether to pass a federal media shield law. If passed, the law will give reporters a privilege to avoid disclosing their sources and confidential information. Journalists insist that such a law is necessary for them to serve their critical role as a watch dog on the U.S. government without fear of retribution. The debate has heated up after a Time Magazine reporter accepted a grand jury request for disclosing his source: a high-ranking government official who leaked the name of a CIA undercover officer. The debate may not end anytime soon because opponents argue that the law will corrupt the media. This paper scrutinizes the merits and demerits of the shield law.