Press freedom boost

Press, 28 August 1978, Page 9

Press freedom boost

NZPA-Reuter Washington! | A Congressional committee has recommended an) ■enactment of new legislation! j to curb the impact of a re-1 I cent Supreme Court decision] i I that allowed police to search i for evidence in newspaper I offices. The House of Representative’s Government Operations Committee supported news media concern , that the decision infringed ■ on Constitutional guaranteesl I of a free press, could subiect newspaper offices to har-, rassment by law enforcers, | and could threaten the confidentiality of news sources, j The Supreme Court ruled' in a California case last May that it was legal for police- ■ men to obtain a search war- ■ rant to enter a newspaper 1 office to look for pictures I taken by a staff photographer, even though the 1 newspaper and its staff were 1 not suspected of any crime. I The ca'-n grew out of a i Stanford University Hospital i — j

(demonstration in 1971 where a photographer for a student; newspaper, the “Stanford i’Daily,” took pictures of the confrontation between pol’cemen and demonstra|tors. The committee, which : held hearings on the issue, said new legislation should include these principles.— —To obtain a warrant, the police would have to show

treasonable cause that sub-! tpoena or request for evi-l ildence would result, in the re-1 tmoval or destruction of the ilevidence; anc — Protection - of the right of privacy. in I i cases of this type should eX-l , Und to all citizens, not just 1 the news media or those possessing professional privilege, such as clergymen or ’ ’doctors.