Journalistic Privilege or Obstruction of Justice?

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Vanessa Leggett says that because she's writing a book on a Texas society murder, she enjoys a journalist's legal protection for notes and sources. The district attorney insists she's illegally concealing notes that could condemn or exonerate a suspect. The writer is in prison while the courts decide not just what protections a journalist has, but who can claim such privilege. We ask what constitutes a journalist, and weigh journalistic privilege and responsibility with Leggett's attorney, a former Whitewater deputy counsel, and sympathetic voices from the media. (New York Times reporter Jim Sterngold guest hosts.) Newsmaker: US Abandoning Plans to Immobilize Plutonium? - During the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union built thousands of nuclear weapons using dangerous enriched plutonium. Today, there are still millions of tons of plutonium in storage. Nuclear expert Matthew Bunn takes a look at an apparent shift in US policy on handling the deadly substance. Reporter's Notebook: Role of Dietary Supplements in Football Player's Death? - The medical examiner says that Northwestern football player Rashidi Wheeler died from his asthma condition during a workout earlier this month, but police say teammates had taken a performance enhancing drink. Chicago Tribune reporter Julie Deardorff has written on the supplements favored by numerous athletes.
Vanessa Leggett says that because she's writing a book on a Texas society murder, she enjoys a journalist's legal protection for notes and sources. The district attorney insists she's illegally concealing notes that could condemn or exonerate a suspect. The writer is in prison while the courts decide not just what protections a journalist has, but who can claim such privilege. We ask what constitutes a journalist, and weigh journalistic privilege and responsibility with Leggett's attorney, a former Whitewater deputy counsel, and sympathetic voices from the media. (New York Times reporter Jim Sterngold guest hosts.)
  • Newsmaker: US Abandoning Plans to Immobilize Plutonium? - During the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union built thousands of nuclear weapons using dangerous enriched plutonium. Today, there are still millions of tons of plutonium in storage. Nuclear expert Matthew Bunn takes a look at an apparent shift in US policy on handling the deadly substance.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Role of Dietary Supplements in Football Player's Death? - The medical examiner says that Northwestern football player Rashidi Wheeler died from his asthma condition during a workout earlier this month, but police say teammates had taken a performance enhancing drink. Chicago Tribune reporter Julie Deardorff has written on the supplements favored by numerous athletes.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Brill's Content

District Attorney, Harris County, Texas

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the

Chicago Tribune

Ultimate Orange / Ultimate Punch

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney