The Press: Protecting the Source

Like eleven other states,* California has a law that newsmen have the right to refuse to reveal the source of a story. But last week California's law proved to be little protection for the San Francisco Chronicle's Reporter Jack Howard, 31. For refusing to identify a source, Newsman Howard landed in jail.

California's first test case of its 20-year-old law came as the result of a story Newsman Howard wrote about an apple-pickers' strike. In it he quoted an A.F.L. Teamsters' union official as saying union members would refuse to handle apples picked by non-union members. The growers' attorney then subpoenaed Howard...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!