Reporter shield law approved

Governor Chris Gregoire signed the reporter shield law legislation into law on Friday. It will allow reporters to keep confidential sources secret, It grants reporters the same exemption from testifying in court that is granted to spouses, attorneys and clergy. The law also gives qualified protection to reporter work product.

The board of the Western Washington Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) took an active role in helping make the legislation stronger than it was when it was first proposed last year. The board thoroughly examined the initial draft of the shield law and found it lacking. During the course of the 2006 legislative session, the board vigorously participated in the debate over the legislation. We believe our participation helped bring about the improvements we see in the shield law that passed this year.

The board of the Western Washington Pro Chapter of SPJ believes that protecting reporters and their confidential sources is crucial to protecting our democracy. Although we would have liked even stronger protection for reporter work product (notes, outtakes, unpublished photographs) and the idea of the government defining the news media gives us pause, providing absolute protection for confidential sources is a worthy goal and one that SPJ fully supports. We applaud the Legislature's passage of this legislation and the governor for signing it into law.

For more information on the Western Washington Professional Chapter of SPJ, go to www.spjwash.org.