News: Lawmakers Make New Bid to Pass Law Protecting Reporters

A Virginia lawmaker is supporting an effort to pass a federal shield law to protect reporters from being forced to reveal their sources.

The bill is cosponsored by Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate. It would write into federal law the protection for reporters now granted by 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Advocates of the bill supported by Virginia Democratic Representative Rick Boucher say it will give government whistle-blowers more reason to reveal corruption when they know that reporters will be shielded in most cases from prosecutors' efforts to reveal information.

But Boucher says there would be exceptions.

For example, a judge could require a reporter to reveal a source to prevent imminent death or harm to national security.