“While my case will not be affected by any new law, I hope you will contact your member of Congress so other journalists are better protected.”

Sarah Olson, discussing the federal shield bill

New Protections for a New Age of Journalism

Ask Congress to pass a federal shield law to protect more journalists in this new age of media. Stand up for a free press. Take action now.

Subject: After learning about journalist Sarah Olson being subpoenaed in the U.S. v. Watada court martial, I feel something needs to be done to protect our journalists. Journalists no longer work only for huge newspapers, which have legal departments to protect them against unnecessary government interference in newsgathering. Today, many reporters work on a contract basis or with online publications, without the benefit of healthcare, not to mention a shield law. But they still break important stories and take real risks. Congress needs to pass a federal shield law to protect all media workers from intrusions on newsgathering. Journalists must be free to report -- and citizens must be free to speak without fear of censure or retribution. Please work with Representative John Conyers to support a federal shield law, and to end aggressive prosecutorial tactics involving journalists. I urge you to uphold the First Amendment values that guard against the chilling effects of heavyhanded prosecutorial tactics on meaningful press freedom. Your signature will be added from the information you provide.		All fields are required.           Title    Select Title Mr. Ms. Mrs. Dr. Rabbi Fr. Rev. Hon. Br. Sr. First Name * Last Name * Email * Street * Street 2 City * State/Region Select One... Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware D.C. Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Other * Zip/Postal Code * Send an Email Send a Fax  Keep me informed on this and other campaigns Please remember my info for future forms

Sarah Olson is a journalist who published an exclusive interview with Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, the highest-ranking member of the military to refuse to deploy to Iraq. Now, the Army wants Olson to be their witness in the lieutenant’s upcoming court martial. The Army is trying to turn speaking to the press into a crime — and wants to have a reporter participate in the prosecution of political speech.

Hauling journalists like Sarah Olson in front of a military court to testify against their sources silences debate, and creates a chilling effect on reporters willing to write the tough stories.

Journalists should not have to deal with potential fines, legal bills and jail time for serving the public interest.

LA Times Editorial: Military Injustice

Army prosecutors are going too far in trying to conscript reporters to boost their case in a soldier's court-martial

ARMY 1ST LT. EHREN WATADA may or may not have a good claim for conscientious objector status. It makes sense for the Army to prosecute [Lt. Ehren Watada] for refusing orders to deploy to Iraq last June ... But Army lawyers are overreaching when they try to prosecute their case by drafting reporters ...

It's egregious enough when U.S. attorneys subpoena journalists, which is happening at an alarmingly increasing rate (illustrating the need for a national shield law). But there is something especially chilling about the U.S. military reaching beyond its traditional authority to compel a non-military U.S. citizen engaged in news-gathering to testify in a military court, simply to bolster a court-martial case. There is no security interest at stake, and no matter of national urgency.

The Army can make its case against Watada without pestering civilian journalists. Sustaining the military subpoena would set a troubling precedent. It's time for the Army to back off.

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Military Shouldn't Force Press to Testify Against Political Speech

• Journalists should report news, not be forced to participate in government prosecutions — especially prosecutions seeking to criminalize political speech.
• Subpoenaing journalists to participate in government prosecutions erodes the necessary separation between press and state and threatens to turn journalists into an investigative tool for the government.
• Hauling journalists in front of a military court to testify against their sources imposes a chilling effect on reporters willing to write tough stories, and silences dissenting and minority voices.
• Debate is the lifeblood of democracy and the free exchange of information and ideas is in the public’s best interest. Press freedom and free speech are the heart of our democracy, and the foundation of our Constitution.