Journalists seek federal shield law

American journalists have requested that Congress pass a federal shield law in an effort to protect the identities of confidential sources.

Members of the House of Representatives received letters last week from the National Association of Broadcasters the Radio-Television News Directors Association, and Newspaper Association of America. In the letters the three organisations supported the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007, which would create a form of privilege designed to prevent federal investigators from forcing journalists to disclose the names of confidential sources unless it is determined that the public interest - which would usually rest with having a free press - is better served by disclosure.

A similar measure is under examination in the Senate, and a majority of US states already have local shield provisions.