Jackson Free Press

The San Francisco Chronicle reports good news for journalists and the public's right to know:

After eight years of conflict between the Bush administration and the news media over reporters' confidential sources and government secrecy, attorney general-designate Eric Holder signaled Thursday that the Obama administration will take a different approach. At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Holder said he supports the idea of a shield law that would allow journalists to protect secret sources by refusing to testify before courts and grand juries. The legislation has been blocked in Congress by opposition from President Bush's Justice Department, which contends it is unnecessary and would endanger national security.

Holder also said he would work to reverse a Bush administration policy, first declared by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft, to withhold federal records from the public if there is any plausible reason to do so. The nominee said he favors a Clinton administration policy to release documents unless there is evidence that disclosure would harm a government agency or the public.

"This is very good news," said Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press, one of several media advocacy groups seeking changes in the policies.