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Wisconsin Senate passes shield law

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Richard Renner

The Wisconsin Senate yesterday passed a "Shield Law" that would protect journalists and their confidential sources. The bill now goes to the Governor who has expressed support for the bill.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Pat Kreitlow, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "This bill is not about protecting the journalists so much as protecting the whistleblowers and their ability to come forward without the fear of intimidation or retribution from their employers." Kreitlow is a former television and radio reporter. The Journal Sentinel noted that its Pulitzer-winning investigation into fraud in a state child-care program depended on whistleblowers.

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Wisconsin's legislature considers a shield law

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Richard Renner

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Wisconsin is one of 14 states that does not have any "shield law" to protect journalists and their confidential sources.  A new bill in the state's legislature could change that.  Last Saturday, the Wisconsin State Journal published an editorial endorsing the bill.

The editorial endorses the Whistleblower Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, and Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls.  It would guarantee whistleblowers that journalists could not be compelled to reveal their identities or turn over the information if the case went to court. The Journal recognizes that this policy would benefit not only whistleblowers who would feel safer about coming forward, but also the public at large who would be more likely to discover misconduct.
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