Off The Record

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A federal district court is holding Matthew Cooper of Time Magazine in contempt for refusing to name the administration officials who leaked the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. The judge says the First Amendment doesn’t apply. If the appeals court agrees, Cooper could go to jail. Journalists say they need extra legal protection or else they won’t be able to do their jobs. Others say a crime is a crime, and that reporters should have same responsibility as citizens to speak out.

Guests:

Lucy Dalglish, Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press

Geneva Overholser, professor at the Missouri School of Journalism

Daniel Okrent, public editor of the New York Times

Floyd Abrams, First Amendment attorney

Vanessa Leggett, Houston-based writer.