Ruling to Make Reporters Act Like Drug Dealers?

netbuzz writes "A 2-1 New York appeals court ruling yesterday will require two reporters to cough up their telephone records over a property-seizure case unless it gets reversed on appeal. As the dissenting judge noted, this kind of erosion of press protections will have reporters 'contacting sources the way I understand drug dealers do to reach theirs -- by use of clandestine cell phones and meeting in darkened doorways.' It's long past time for a federal shield law."

Comments

Woah, cool!

[avalys]

" 'contacting sources the way I understand drug dealers do to reach theirs -- by use of clandestine cell phones and meeting in darkened doorways.'"

Cool! Just like the movies. Leave it like this, the reporters will have fun.

Look on the bright side

[antifoidulus]

the number of porn titles has exploded since the 70's, so the sources will have plenty of names to pick from....Though I doubt journalists will be very pleased at having to write "my source 'Asian anal adventure volume 5' has informed me that..."

Re:The Truth Will Come Out

[WilliamSChips]

The "no law" part.

Re:The Truth Will Come Out

[HTH NE1]

the judiciary branch requiring them to cough up phone records

They don't have them already? Apparently these reporters didn't use AT&T.