It's certainly not public info. The FBI was asking for the reporters' private notes, recordings, and other source material. This included material which was taken "off the record" during interviews.
In general, reporters are required by law and ethics to protect the confidentiality of their sources (if their sources desire confidentiality).
What bugged me most about this situation is that the FBI would go after reporters who reported on Lamo but no one was going after Robert Novak's notes, despite the fact that his source blew the cover of a CIA agent (a treasonous offense). This update helps clarify the sitation: go after all other sources of information first.
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It's certainly not public info. The FBI was asking for the reporters' private notes, recordings, and other source material. This included material which was taken "off the record" during interviews. In general, reporters are required by law and ethics to protect the confidentiality of their sources (if their sources desire confidentiality). What bugged me most about this situation is that the FBI would go after reporters who reported on Lamo but no one was going after Robert Novak's notes, despite the fact that his source blew the cover of a CIA agent (a treasonous offense). This update helps clarify the sitation: go after all other sources of information first.