Gov. Parkinson Signs Shield Law

Kansas journalists now have additional legal

protection regarding confidential sources and unpublished material

under a law signed by Gov. Mark Parkinson.

The bill is among 13 the governor signed Thursday. It gives

journalists limited protection against being forced to identify

anonymous sources or disclose information they haven’t published or

broadcast.

A journalist could be forced to comply with a subpoena only if a

district court judge ruled that the party seeking the information

made a reasonable effort to obtain it some other way.

The Kansas Press Association was the primary supporter of the

bill. KPA executive director Doug Anstaett says the law will

encourage reporters and their sources to step forward to uncover

abuse and corruption in government.