Presidential Candidates Lauded For Supporting Federal Media Shield Law

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Two prominent organizations have issued statements saying they were happy that all three major presidential candidates say they favor a national law shielding journalists who are protecting sources as they report on government, and other, wrongdoing.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) have both said they were happy that Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) have endorsed a national shield law to protect journalists in their watchdog role serving the American public.

Right now 49 states have laws protecting journalists from being prosecuted for refusing to name the sources that are giving them information, there is no national law to prevent journalists from being prosecuted and jailed if they refuse to name their whistle-blowing sources.

Sens. Clinton and Obama added their names as co-sponsors of S. 2035, The Free Flow of Information Act bill, while McCain announced his support in a speech given on Monday.

The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill on Oct. 16 by a vote of 398-21.

Obama and Clinton gave speeches earlier this week and spoke about the importance of a law to protect journalists as they cover government.

Obama said in a speech on Monday that it may be necessary "to ramp up surveillance in order to prevent a terrorist attack." Despite that, he said there was a need to have media watchdogs present to prevent the abuse of civil liberties, according to a press release from the SPJ.

Clinton in a speech on Tuesday said one of the reasons she supported the media shield law was because their was a need for more open government and she emphasized the need to promote transparency as the government conducts its business, according to a press release from the SPJ.

That watchdog role of journalists in serving to protect the interests of Americans was emphasized by the ACLU as it applauded McCain, Clinton and Obama for supporting the bill.

"The Free Flow of Information Act is a bill that is as important as it is timely. Forcing journalists to reveal their sources hinders those who would come forward with news that could affect us all, Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office, said in a statement. "Journalists must be allowed to do their job without fear of retribution. Together, an uncompromised press and an informed public are the foundation of a true democracy."