PenceBlog: <b><i>Indy Star</i> editorial: "Protect journalists and right to know" by passing Lugar, Pence media shield legislation</b> - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

Last week San Francisco reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada were sentenced to 18 months in prison by a federal judge for refusing to reveal how they received the grand jury testimony of Barry Bonds and other athletes.

The recent news development is covered in this San Francisco Chronicle article.

Here is an excerpt:

"The Republican sponsor of a House bill to create a federal shield law for journalists said Friday the threatened imprisonment of Chronicle reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada for refusing to name their confidential sources shows precisely why the law is needed.

"Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana was reacting to the news Thursday that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White had sided with federal prosecutors and sentenced the two reporters to up to 18 months in prison for refusing to identify their sources for federal grand jury testimony that revealed some of the nation's top sports stars used illegal steroids.

"'Once again, the sad image of American journalists behind bars is being projected to the world,' Pence said in a statement released Friday. 'American reporters should not be jailed to force them to reveal confidential sources, but current law permits prosecutors to do just that.'"

Today the Indianapolis Star published this editorial in favor of a federal media shield, legislation Congressman Pence sponsors in the House.

Here is an excerpt from the editorial:

"A bill pending in Congress, sponsored by Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar and Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, would block federal judges from forcing journalists to betray sources. In cases of an 'imminent threat' to national security, the media's shield could be lowered and cooperation forced.

"However, in most cases, including the Bonds-BALCO investigation, journalists would remain free to do their jobs, probing, prying and promising, when necessary, to protect sources.

"Congress should finally approve the shield legislation, proposed by Lugar and Pence last It's not just about shielding journalists. More important, it's about protecting the public's right to a free flow of information."

posted by Pence Press Office # 12:25 PM