FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on Protecting Journalists' Sources

Original title: SHIELDING SOURCES: SAFEGUARDING THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW

January 1, 2018

freedom of the press First Amendment journalism government oversight civil liberties

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing addresses the legal and ethical standards for how the government interacts with journalists, specifically regarding the use of s and surveillance to identify confidential sources.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Journalists

The hearing concerns the legal protections for their confidential sources and their ability to report without government surveillance.

Federal Government Agencies

The hearing examines the limits of their authority to subpoena journalists or monitor their communications.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript from a 2018 joint House subcommittee hearing focused on the protection of journalists' sources and the freedom of the press. The hearing explored the balance between government authority and the right to report the news without intimidation.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on July 24, 2018, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The session was a joint hearing between the Subcommittee on Healthcare, Benefits, and Administrative Rules and the Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Affairs.
The hearing was part of a broader series of congressional inquiries into First Amendment liberties.
The discussion focused on the 'freedom of the press' and the 'pursuit of truth without government entanglements or intimidation'.
The Chairman cited concerns regarding previous administrations' use of wiretapping on journalists' phones and the issuance of subpoenas to identify sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was held to discuss the protection of journalists' sources and the broader issue of press freedom under the .

Who testified at the hearing?

The witnesses included Lee Levine (Ballard Spahr, LLP), Sharyl Attkisson (Full Measure), and Rick Blum (Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press).

Why It Matters

The hearing addresses the legal and ethical standards for how the government interacts with journalists, specifically regarding the use of s and surveillance to identify confidential sources.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on First Amendment Liberties

The hearing was part of a series of inquiries by the committee specifically targeting First Amendment protections across various sectors, including media, religion, and academia.

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Connected Entities

personRick Blum“Policy Director at Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press; witness”Map →

personSharyl Attkisson“Investigative Correspondent at Full Measure; witness”Map →

organizationCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform“House committee hosting the hearing”Map →

personJim Jordan“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Healthcare, Benefits, and Administrative Rules”Map →

personLee Levine“Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr, LLP; witness”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy50
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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