Free Flow of Information Act
Encyclopedia
The Free Flow of Information Act is a bill intended to provide a news reporter with the right to refuse to testify as to information or sources of information obtained during the newsgathering and dissemination process.
While numerous U.S. states have shield law
s, the federal government has no such law. The bill is an effort to enact a shield law at the federal level.
The bill was introduced to the United States Senate
by Sens. Richard Lugar and Chris Dodd in 2007.
It was proposed in its current form by Sen. Arlen Specter
.
In the bill's present form in the Senate, it would not act as an unqualified immunity for journalists. Instead, federal judges would be allowed to declare certain news stories as having a public interest based on information obtained from condifential sources during the newsgathering process.
In October 2007, the Free Flow of Information Act was passed by the United States House of Representatives
.
More than 50 media companies and organizations support the bill. The administration of President George W. Bush
opposed it.
Speaking to the Associated Press
annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 2008, Senator John McCain
, the 2008 Republican nominee for president, said "Despite concerns I have about the legislation, I have narrowly decided to support it."
While numerous U.S. states have shield law
Shield law
A shield law or reporters' privilege is legislation designed to provide a news reporter with the right to refuse to testify as to information and/or sources of information obtained during the news gathering and dissemination process.-Definition:...
s, the federal government has no such law. The bill is an effort to enact a shield law at the federal level.
The bill was introduced to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
by Sens. Richard Lugar and Chris Dodd in 2007.
It was proposed in its current form by Sen. Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
.
In the bill's present form in the Senate, it would not act as an unqualified immunity for journalists. Instead, federal judges would be allowed to declare certain news stories as having a public interest based on information obtained from condifential sources during the newsgathering process.
In October 2007, the Free Flow of Information Act was passed by the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
More than 50 media companies and organizations support the bill. The administration of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
opposed it.
Speaking to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 2008, Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, the 2008 Republican nominee for president, said "Despite concerns I have about the legislation, I have narrowly decided to support it."
External links
- Journalists’ Privilege: Overview of the Law and Legislation in the 109th and 110th Congresses, Congressional Research Service, October 18, 2007
- Legislative History: Free Flow of Information Act of 2009 (with links to key documents)