SHIELD LAW TAKES ON NEW URGENCY

Out of adversity comes progress. A federal shield law protecting reporters and their sources has bounced around Congress for many years, coming close to passage before a data dump to WikiLeaks washed away support.

But recent events, notably the Justice Department’s seizure of Associated Press telephone records and action against a Fox News reporter, have reminded lawmakers that threats to freedom can come from nice offices, too. The legislation has taken on a new urgency.

And added depth. The bill scheduled for mark up Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee includes strong language that treats requests for the records of phone com- panies the same as requests from reporters themselves. It adds a layer of protection from federal snoops.

Federal agents must strike delicate balances between protecting the nation’s security and inhibiting the flow of information upon which a free and informed nation must rely. The Justice Department’s recent investigations of suspected leaks tell us that our free flow of information is in real jeopardy.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, a member of the Judiciary Committee, voted for previous versions of the shield law when he served in the House. We trust he and the other senators on the committee will support this necessary protection for a free press and an informed citizenry.