AAJA Renews Call for Federal Shield Law

Media Contact:

Janice Lee
AAJA Deputy Executive Director
JaniceL@aaja.org
(415) 346-2051 x110

SAN FRANCISCO (September 25, 2006) -- AAJA joins the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and other journalism organizations in reiterating the call for the enactment of a federal shield law.

Executive Director Rene Astudillo said that in light of a recent federal judge ruling that could send two San Francisco Chronicle reporters to jail for refusing to divulge their news sources, the AAJA governing board reiterates the following statement it issued last year:

"AAJA believes that the use of anonymous sources is a necessary, critical part of newsgathering. We believe journalists should not enter lightly into such agreements but when they do, they need to be protected from being forced to divulge their sources' identities and violate trust."

"It is a privilege long recognized by the courts and by statute in a majority of states. But increasingly, that right is under attack and put in jeopardy. That is why AAJA supports a national shield law, one that would strengthen journalists' ability to shed light on issues of public importance and, ultimately, ensure the public's right-to-know."

The two San Francisco Chronicle reporters are Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams. The judge's ruling was prompted by their stories about a grand jury investigation of the BALCO steroids case involving Giants’ player Barry Bonds.

The AAJA statement last year was issued in support of jailed New York Times reporter Judith Miller and the growing number of other journalists threatened with jail time for protecting their confidential sources.