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Shield law does not apply if reporter is witness

Article Abstract:

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in Minnesota v. Turner that a news photographer that had witnessed criminal conduct and subsequent arrest had to testify as to what he had witnessed. The journalist was not protected by Minnesota's shield laws because he was an eyewitness and because the shield law only protected communications between journalists and their sources. The Court also found that there was no constitutional privilege under the US or the Minnesota Constitution that would keep him from having to testify.

Cases, Minnesota, News photographers, Photojournalists

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Reporter protected in shield law's first test

Article Abstract:

A Colorado appellate court ruled in Colorado v. Henderson that a television news reporter could not be compelled to testify in a criminal suppression hearing. In this case the court ruled there was insufficient evidence that the information was unavailable from any other source. The evidence sought from the reporter was a videotape of a police investigation taken from a helicopter, as well as information regarding the helicopter's flight path and altitude.

Television journalists

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Shield law passes in Florida; S.C. assembly weighs bill

Article Abstract:

South Carolina and Florida are considering legislation to shield reporters from being forced to give testimony in court. The Florida bill was introduced in response to reporter Tim Roche's jail sentence for contempt. Nebraska is considering broadening the scope of its journalistic shield law to include state senators' dealings with constituents, in an attempt to prevent the state auditor from auditing senators' long distance telephone records.

Legislators

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