Johnell Celistan
Although freedom of expression is the foundation of what
America has built its governmental policy on, some policies are set to regulate
these freedoms. One case of this involves a FoxNews.com reporter Jana Winter
according to FoxNews.com. She’s in a situation where she potentially can face
jail time because she received information regarding a notebook that was
allegedly kept by James Holmes, the accused shooter in the Aurora, Colorado
movie theater shooting back in the summer of 2012, according to FoxNews.com.
She refuses to give up her sources to protect the witness and potential
witnesses who want to keep themselves anonymous. The freedom of press is what
is being regulated in this case, involving the government and reporter Jana
Winter. Her freedom to report stories without giving up her anonymous source who
told her the story is what is being challenged by the courts. She can argue
that her first amendment right is being controlled. According to FoxNews.com,
Colorado has a law in place called the Shield Law, which protects reporters
from being forced to reveal their sources. FoxNews also reports that, “Media and First Amendment advocates say such laws are crucial to allowing
journalists to do their jobs, and that without them, people with information of
public interest would be afraid to speak and news outlets would be chilled from
informing the public.” The shield law not only protects journalist but it
protects those who refuse to display their identity to the public.
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