HR 5322 · 93th Congress · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

News Media Source Protection Act

Introduced 1973-03-07· Sponsored by Rep. Coughlin, Lawrence [R-PA-13]· House

Bill Progress

Introduced
2
Committee
3
House Vote
4
Senate
5
Enacted
Latest: Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.(1973-03-07)

Plain Language Summary

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] News Media Source Protection Act - States that the policy of the United States is to permit the flow of information from individuals through the media to the public with reasonable freedom from governmental intrusion, so that constitutional protection of a free flow of news is divested only when a compelling and overriding interest in the source of such information can be demonstrated. Sets forth the following procedural determinations needed prior to any consideration of compulsory disclosure of news media sources: (1) a demonstration that there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed, and that the testimony sought is directly relevant to a central issue in that criminal allegation; and (2) a demonstration that no reasonable alternative for obtaining the testimony is available. Extends the protection of this Act to any legitimate member of the professional news media, including an individual regularly engaged in gathering, collecting, photographing, filming, writing, editing, interpreting, announcing, or broadcasting local, national, or worldwide events or other matters of public concern, or public interest, or affecting the public welfare, for publication or trans…

Summarized by Claude AI · Non-partisan · For informational purposes only

Cosponsors (2)

2 Republicans