Reporter's Privilege- 5

 

    According to research, the idea of reporter's privilege is that a journalist has limited access to the first amendment and does not have to reveal information that they aren't comfortable with revealing. As a reporter, I imagine how hard it could be to choose not to say something uncomfortable due to the backlash one may receive for choosing not to do so. In the year 2019, many journalists were fined and locked up for refusing to share confidential sources and information about their jobs. Organizations like the 'Reporters Freedom Committee' help journalists fight cases as such. 

            Journalists face numerous amount of legal threats for upholding the standards of their jobs. The Reporters Committee study's cases about journalists and the journalist's job and organization. The Reporters Committee has helped many people from the 1950s to now. There are over twenty cases that have been fought by a journalist with the help of The Reporters Committee. 'Freedom of Press' is also involved in cases about a journalist having legal rights relating to their jobs.

    The Reporters Committee's intention is to keep access private when it comes to privacy interests or journalists and certain companies. We have seen scenes in movies where if a person doesn't share information, private information that they'll get locked up with the key thrown away, journalist and media specialist that are in front of behind the camera struggle with this issue often in the world of mass media. In the year of 2006, a vlogger was in jail for a month for refusing to share videotape that the FBI claimed included protestors destroying a police car. Josh Wolf, who was the vlogger who refused to give the feds the take was released on bail to only be placed back into jail after his hearing.

Qualifying for reporters' privilege has its pros and cons in the media world. For a reporter to qualify for reporter privilege they have to be fully engaged in their occupation. Some believe that reporter's privilege comes with a series of issues and problems while others feel that reporters have every right to file the protection to uphold their job titles and appeal under court orders. I believe that reporters should continue to have the right to reporters' privilege and not have unpublished possibly published to the public. It's also important that reporters and journalist protect their sources because a lot of things could go sour if they don’t.

If reporters don’t take action to protect their sources they could be sued or even worse, fired. Some reporters are forced to reveal information anonymously until it is revealed to the public. A lot of advantages and disadvantages. The whole point is, reporters' privilege is a basic human right in the world of media. Issues may vary during reporters privilege cases, but it is however necessary. The reason is that it is necessary is because it aligns with politics as well as protects job titles that are needed in society.

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt1_3_1/

https://online.maryville.edu/blog/journalist-vs-reporter/