Shield law expected to win approval

Legislation aimed at protecting reporters from lawsuits demanding release of confidential news sources is expected to win approval this week from the Senate Judiciary Committee, a move that would mark an important milestone in a lengthy campaign by news organizations for the so-called federal shield law. The committee is slated to meet Thursday to approve a measure that would allow judges in certain cases to quash subpoenas for information concerning confidential sources. The provision is among several recent changes to the bill (S. 448), known as the Free Flow of Information Act, that are endorsed by a coalition of journalism organizations.