Show Reporters in Jail In London two reporters were recently sentenced to jail terms because they refused refused refused-in in the tradition of the press press to to reveal their source of oC information One other reporter had been sentenced sentenced sen sen- tented to a jail term tenn but his after his source came forward and identified himself the court dismissed the sentence All these sentences Involve a high scandal in the British Admiralty Ad where the leaks of oC various reporters helped touch off of an investigation that uncovered uncovered ered a spy network One man has been convicted of oC spying and is now serving a long jail term as a result result so so the disclosures dis closures have caused a sensation sensation sensa sensa- tion in England The press in western democracies has attempted to jealously jeal jeal- jealously defend the right of oC a are reported re reported p ported to keep his sources a of 01 t information confidential Generally Generally Gen and in the vast majority of oC circumstances and categories ies ies this rule is unassailable However when the national security is at stake it is harder to define the traditional t of oC the reporter If the court d de de- e tides that national security is vitally concerned few fair minded persons even cven members of oC the press themselves s can deny that a good case can b be made in behalf of oC requiring ring th the courses of information to be revealed re re- perhaps in secret |