Journalists get shield law to protect sources

A new bill of law from Minister for Security and Justice would give journalists and other publicists the right to protect their sources in a court case, the NOS reports. The new reporter's privilege for journalists, common practice in the U.S., was announced in 2012, and has now been sent to Parliament by Minister Opstelten. The law would mean that a witness has the right not to give an answer to a judge's questions. Now, a witness is legally obliged to answer questions. Journalists or publicists "who write about (political) or current affairs" could get the right to protect their sources in court, Minister Opstelten says. "This corresponds to the changed character of the free press and the media landscape of the past years." The new law would oblige journalists to reveal their source in "special circumstance", however, the NOS writes. This would include cases in which national security could be compromised or when serious offenses, Opstelten has said.