I. Introduction: History & Background

The state of the Reporter’s Privilege is considerably improved with the recent passage of the state’s shield law, although there is still uncertainty as to how some provisions will be interpreted. The new shield law (signed on May 13, 2009, and effective upon signing) has already been used on a number of occasions with mostly positive results. Not only have numerous court proceedings resulted in favorable rulings for reporters and the media, but there is considerable anecdotal evidence of many media outlets convincing the subpoenaing party to withdraw the subpoena upon being informed of the passage of the new law.