Candidates back federal shield law

From the Spring 2008 issue of The News Media & The Law, page 13.

All three candidates are on record supporting the Free Flow of Information Act, which prohibits a court from compelling a reporter to testify or produce a document related to protected information in most cases.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) announced during the Associated Press Annual Meeting in Washington that he supports the media shield law, despite some reservations.

“I’m willing to invest in the press a very solemn trust that in the use of confidential sources, you will not do more harm than good, whether it comes to the security of the nation or the reputation of good people,” McCain said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic rivals also announced their support.

Both Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, S. 2035, joining 10 other senators.