What is a state reporters shield law?
More than 30 states have elected to provide protection for journalists over and above the protection afforded by the constitutional reporter’s privilege. For example, through an initiative the people of California included a reporter’s shield in the California Constitution. This shield provides “absolute protection to nonparty journalists in civil litigation from being compelled to disclose unpublished information.” It may be “overcome only by a countervailing federal constitutional right.” The California reporter’s shield protects all persons “connected with…a newspaper, magazines, or other periodical publication,” without limitation.
