White House Toughens Its Stance on Journalist Shield Law

The Obama administration has given Congress a draft of a proposed shield law that toughens its position on controversial national security sections, according to administration sources. The proposed law is designed to protect journalists from having to disclose their confidential sources. Although some media sources called the draft a step backward that might kill the legislation, a White House official said Thursday that he expects negotiations to continue. "It does not represent a fixed point," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he had not been authorized to speak publicly. Media representatives who have reviewed the draft provided to them and Congress this week said the language came as a surprise, given President Obama's campaign pledge to support shield legislation. "People are very disappointed . . . and baffled," said Paul J. Boyle, senior vice president of the Newspaper Association of America, which is among the organizations promoting the legislation. He said many of his colleagues in the media are concerned that the administration's shift "may represent an effort to kill the legislation."