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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle. Tuesday. December 5. Page Six 1978 B DXTORIoXi jeff hbwrey Courts have press running scared Regrettably, U.S. courts have freedom of the press running scared. While in the past few years, the press has clearly expanded the boundaries of information available to Americans, the U.S. judiciary has nonetheless seemed intent upon burdening the news media with regressive restrictions which could gravely affect the future of investigative reporting. A U.S. District Court, for example, recently held that lawyers in libel cases can rightfully probe the thoughts and opinions a newsman held while piecing together a story. That ruling arose from a $44.7 million libel suit against the CBS feature news show 60 Minutes. In the course of pretrial questioning, a 60 Minutes producer refused to answer questions posed by prosecuting attorneys concerning his "state of mind" and the decision-makin- g process he went client claimed their the while preparing segment through was libelous. The federal judge presiding over the trial subsequently ruled that such questions were vital to the proceedings and within the proper province of a legal probe. however, those are rather unpromising hands to cradle such a case. Indicative of the court's current mood regarding the media was its ruling that police have the right to search the offices and homes of persons typically, reporters who may possess information or material relating to a crime, but who are not themselves involved in the criminal activity. Additionally, since 1972 the Supreme Court has consistently maintained that, under certain circumstances, courts can require reporters to reveal confidential sources. The controversial issue of confidentiality was most recently raised in the New Jersey murder trial of Dr. Mario Jascalevich, during which contempt citations were issued against the New York Times and its reporter Myron Farber whose series of investigative articles had prompted Jascalevich's indictment for refusing to reveal sources. Handcuffed g Such judicial insensitivity prompted a official of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, to comment a few days ago, "Professional journalists must struggle fiercely to protect and enhance the rights we hold on behalf of our fellow citizens." high-rankin- Unpromising That case is now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court d decisions, justices. In light of that court's recent press-relate- WE'VE Gtf To DEPROGRAM JUNIO-R- HE'S RUN QFFANP JOINED Noteworthy is the fact that those "fellow citizens" the American public disagree with the Supreme Court's stance on the issue. According to the highly respected pollster Dr. George margin, Americans feel reporters Gallup, "By a three-to-on- e should be able to preserve the anonymity of news sources who provide material used in stories." And well they should. For in recent decades reporters have, made landmark advances in improving the political and social climate of the United States Watergate, Koreagate and the General Services Administration graft exposes all being prominent examples of the magnitude of corruption and dishonesty uncovered by the press. Indisputably, in the past few years investigative reporting has become this country's most effective and visible catalyst of political reform. Nevertheless, the courts seem determined to handcuff the press to the point of uselessness if Woodward and Bernstein's confidential sources had not been protected by law in the early 70s, for instance, the whole Watergate scandal might never have come to light. It's time for the courts to get off the backs of newsmen. The free flow of information in the United States should be protected not impeded at all costs. IKE PRESBYTERIANS,,, catching up s of the Al Approximately Model Polaris nuclear warheads deployed on submarines in the mid-60- s were probably "duds" due to mechanical defects, the Federal Department of Energy said last three-fourth- week. Now, don't you feel better? the complete And speaking of screw-upconstruction plans including technical drawings for the security system of the most advanced atomic power station in West Germany were found lying in a street by two school boys in Essen, West Germany last s, in prison alter pleading guilty to robbery. But, Walters claimed later, the judge hadn't adequately explained to him his legal rights as a defendant so he was granted a new trial. Last week, Walter's second trial was completed. His sentence: 36 years. That should teach him, huh? At least not to complain, anyway. And speaking of truth, beauty and justice, did you know that Utah is the fourth most urbanized of the 11 western states? According to an article published recently in State Government magazine, 79 percent of the state's population lives in an urban setting, concentrated along the Wasatch front. , , The article also said Utah is No. 1 in the West in the percentage of people who have week. The plans detailed the specifications of a fast breeder reactor being built jointly by West Germany, Belguim and the Netherlands near the Dutch border. Quote: "Any employee who smokes Spanish cigars, uses liquor in any form, gets shaved at the barber shop or frequents pool halls or public dance halls will give his employer every reason to suspect his integrity, worthy intentions and his honesty." a directive to employees of the P.W. Madsen Furniture Co., Salt Lake City, 1870. all-arou- In 1973, Cecil Walters was given 21 years "For magic words, a girl might do magic tricks." Bernard Malamud lived in the state all . their lives 52.5 percent and tied at 7.7 percent with Nevada for the lowest percentage of people over 65 years of age. And while we're still on the subject of truth, beauty and justice, the government announced last week that China has ceased jamming Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts and is even encouraging students to tune in as a way of learning English. "The Voice of America, for the first time, is not being jammed anywhere on this planet," said VOA Director R. Peter Straus. And finally, Attorney General Griffin Bell said last week that some entire cabinet departments may be moved out of Washington to less expensive places like Iowa or Missouri. Bell said planned, 1980 budget cuts will require cutbacks in many government bureaus, and that moving parts, of the bureaucracy out of high-price- d Washington may be one way to get around the "austerity" program. And why not? It would be just as easy to get the runaround in Montpelier as in D.C. Besides, maybe they could even take the cherry blossoms with them. ' ' Kirk Johnson ; |
