In my opinion journalist should not be required to reveal their sources. If sources were made to be revealed journalists would not have sources and we would lose a valuable tool in investigating and solving crimes. If Woodward and Bernstein were forced to reveal their source in the Watergate scandal this would have put their credibility on the line. The case was solved in large part to having a source for the information needed.
When Judith Miller was investigating the Valerie Plame case she would not reveal her source and she was jailed for 85 days. This is the price a good journalist may pay by not revealing their source.
If their was a murder case and a journalist had a source that could crack the case they probably would not come forward if they knew that they could be revealed. This could be a huge loss for the courts and the families whose loved ones were murdered.
I am pretty sure if you asked Helen Thomas if sources should be revealed she would give you an earful on why sources should not be revealed.
Todd Marciniak
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