And I just want to get on the record that our federal government (you know... the one that was, at one time in our history, emboldened to constitutionally protect freedom of the press) DOES NOT have a federal shield law on the books.
Now why would I be thinking about shield laws? So glad I asked. I am contemplating, as is true to my style, the worst case scenario with the most recent edition of the my son's independent newspaper. The lead story discusses the use of marijuana at the high school. Big surprise! But there are enough powerful quotes both identified and anonymous, that may attract the interest of....
1) a principal who may still be stinging from my son's generally noncompliant attitude towards stupid rules, abuses of power and the general cowardness that seems to permeate high school staff and administrators.
2) a district attorney who may, after getting wind of said article, decide it would be easy to intimidate young high school journalists into revealing sources of quotes and the identities of people in certain photographs.
Well people, guess what. We got rights in this here Oregon. No one is getting near these kids if I can do anything about it. Let's hope it is a non issue. Stay tuned....
Other states with shield laws:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Mew Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
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