Do reporters have to reveal sources?
The idea behind reporter’s privilege is that journalists have a limited First Amendment right not to be forced to reveal information or confidential news sources in court. Journalists rely on confidential sources to write stories that deal with matters of legitimate public importance.
What did Judith Miller go to jail for?
Miller spent 85 days in jail for refusing to reveal that her source in the Plame Affair was Scooter Libby. Later, she contributed to the conservative Fox News Channel and Newsmax, and was a fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute.
Can anonymous sources be subpoenaed?
Journalists argue revealing sources has a chilling effect on getting information. Reporters are frequently subpoenaed to provide information for legal proceedings. On occasion the courts seek access to a reporter’s notes, unpublished information, or the identity of a confidential source.
Are journalists protected by the First Amendment?
The First Amendment protects both the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. Journalists have a right to access public places to gather and disseminate news. Public places include sidewalks and public parks, but not private property.
What is nothing but the truth based on?
According to comments made by Lurie in The Truth Hurts, a bonus feature on the DVD release, his inspiration for the screenplay was the case of journalist Judith Miller, who in July 2005 was jailed for contempt of court for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating a leak naming Valerie Plame as a …
What laws protect the press?
Freedom of the press in the United States is legally protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Why do reporters keep their sources confidential?
Journalists rely on source protection to gather and reveal information in the public interest from confidential sources. Such sources may require anonymity to protect them from physical, economic or professional reprisals in response to their revelations.
Can you sue a reporter?
In most jurisdictions, in order to sue an individual whether or not that person is a journalist for defamation, a plaintiff must show that the individual wrote a false and defamatory statement, the plaintiff could be reasonably identified as the subject of the statement, and the statement was published.
Who is the real Roy Miller?
officer Richard “Monty” Gonzalez
Matt Damon’s character, Roy Miller, is loosely based on real-life warrant officer Richard “Monty” Gonzalez, who also served as a film consultant. Like the movie Miller, Gonzales was tasked with searching for weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq in the aftermath of the invasion.
Who are the journalists that have been jailed?
1984, Richard Hargraves, Belleville, Illinois — A newspaper reporter was jailed over a weekend in connection with a libel case. He was released when his source came forward. 1981, Ellen Marks, Idaho — A journalist was cited for contempt of court for refusing to reveal the hiding place of a source involved in a child custody dispute.
Who was the reporter who refused to name a source?
Reporter Jailed After Refusing to Name Source. WASHINGTON, July 6 – Judith Miller, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, was sent to jail on Wednesday after a federal judge declared that she was “defying the law” by refusing to divulge the name of a confidential source.
Are there any cases of journalists being sued for leaking information?
The Reporters Committee also maintains a comprehensive list of federal cases throughout American history where the government has launched a formal inquiry to identify the source of leaked government information or where it has sought to prosecute journalistic sources for those leaks. Some of those cases overlap with this list.
Who was jailed for refusing to identify his sources?
The Idaho Statesman ended up paying $37,500 in fines on her behalf. 1979, Wayne Harrison, Longview, Texas — The news director at radio station KULE was jailed for three hours for refusing to reveal his sources in reporting on a murder case, and was released after the judge decided he no longer needed to know the names of the sources.