I am stunned and sickened by Time's decision.

Where is their backbone?

This is not just horrible for Time, this is horrible for the entire field. This sends a signal to every potential source out there, that reporters cannot be trusted when they assure you of confidentiality.

As a reporter, I have given my word, and I have kept sources secret for years. And some of them have gotten very nervous. I once came under heavy fire, and the idiotic Jeffco Sheriff publicly accused me of being a liar over Columbine, and tried to undermine my credibility. It really rocked my world, and I could have immediately cleared my name by revealing my source. Imagine how he/she felt about that. Worried, I can assure you. Imagine if I were threatened with jail time? At this point--six years later, he/she trusts that I would still go to jail over it. But then what if the magazine publishing me took it out of my hands and turned the person in anyway?

My notes were recently subpoenead by the Air Force, and they threatened me with six months in federal prison. I didn't even have anything they wanted, but I had talked off-the-record with a few people who might be distressed to have their comments public. It probably wasn't a huge deal for them, but that's not the point. I would have had to go to jail to assure them and every other source out there that I would hold to my word.

Not just my sources, EVERY journo's sources. We, as a field, have to hold a united front, or we lose the integrity ALL the whistleblowers out there place in us.

This is just horrible.

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As to their flimsy excuse about having to abiding by the court decisions: Ever hear of civil disobedience? If ever there was a time for them to stand up to the courst and say, No, we disagree, and we're willing to go to jail for it.

Fleeing the country to evade the court may be disrespecting it. Standing up and saying, "Fine, court, you do what you will, you mete out your punishment and I'll accept it. But I'm not compromising the free press!" That is not disrespect. That's respect for your own vital insitutution that you bear a sacred duty to.