Vermont bill helps journalists protect sources

MONTPELIER — Vermont lawmakers are considering a bill that would strip the government's subpoena power to force news reporters to reveal confidential sources.

Vermont is one of only a handful of states that doesn't have so-called shield laws that provide some legal protection to journalists and put their notes and recordings from their newsgathering duties out of reach of the government.

"From a principled standpoint, we want a free and unfettered press in this state, and this bill goes a long way in supporting that," Attorney General T.J. Donovan said in previous testimony before a Senate committee.

Supporters say that having no shield law has a chilling effect on a free press and makes it difficult for reporters to ensure confidentiality to sources when anonymity is the only way to get critical information.

Read more: http://www.reformer.com/stories/vt-bill-helps-journalists-protect-sources,501162