Source Protection and Privacy

Source protection and privacy for journalists and their sources have no formal protections with regards to their privacy mandated by law in the United States. The 1971 case Branzburg v. Hayes largely struck down the idea of reporter's privilege, which is an informal practice that protects communications between journalists and their sources.^[1] However, the case did set precedent and further formed its existence in common law. Protecting sources and their privacy through in-person or digital communications comes with concerns for First and Fourth Amendment protections for news media and individual sources, but also calls into question the validity of their use in federal investigations and judicial systems. News media and their sources have expressed concern over government covertly accessing their private communications.^[1] Technological developments such as encrypted messaging and emails continue to be made as a part of better news practices that protect a journalist's and source's privacy.

^ ^a ^b Abramowicz, David. 2008. “Calculating the Public Interest in Protecting Journalists' Confidential Sources.” Columbia Journalism Review 108(8):1949–90. Retrieved March 1, 2019 (www.jstor.org/stable/40041814)

[:0-1] Abramowicz, David. 2008. “Calculating the Public Interest in Protecting Journalists' Confidential Sources.” Columbia Journalism Review 108(8):1949–90. Retrieved March 1, 2019 (www.jstor.org/stable/40041814)

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