Confidential sources

It's an unusual argument, to declare victory in a First Amendment speech battle while agreeing to stop publishing, but that's the outcome of the Apple Inc. lawsuit against the Think Secret Web site, which regularly published breaking news about Apple product releases before the image-obsessed company was ready to announce them.

Although the police search warrant application for a reporter's cell phone records remains under seal, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that the newly disclosed warrant application for a sheriff's deputy's records in the same incident sought records for a two-month period.

A jury sided with a BusinessWeek reporter in finding that she had not promised confidentiality to a Microsoft executive who disclosed personal details of his work relationships for a story on office conflicts. Interestingly, the Microsoft plaintiff was represented by a lawyer who used to represent the news media.

The City of Seattle withdrew subpoenas to three investigative reporters seeking the identity of several confidential sources. When news of the subpoenas spread, critics were quick to attack city attorney Thomas Carr — the ironic head of the state’s Sunshine Committee — for subpoenaing the reporters to identify sources as part of the city’s defense against a defamation suit from a former police officer.

One of those things we hate to see: a TV station that apparently doesn't "get it" when it comes to how the news media works. The Associated Press reports that:

A South Texas public television station has refused to turn over financial documents to the Valley Morning Star unless a reporter reveals confidential sources, the newspaper reported Saturday.

A reporter ignored promises he made to a source and turned over audio recordings of an interview that lead to the dismissal of all charges against a former FBI supervisor accused of assisting the mob in committing four murders.