An Act to protect the confidentiality of journalistic news sources and information

This bill (HD 3482) protects journalists in Massachusetts by creating legal privileges to shield confidential sources and unpublished information. It grants an absolute right for journalists to refuse disclosing a source's identity in any legal case, and a qualified right to withhold unpublished materials (like notes or drafts) unless the requesting party proves the information is essential, relevant, and unobtainable elsewhere without undue hardship. Exceptions apply only to prevent imminent harm like death, serious injury, or wrongful imprisonment. The law applies to all legal proceedings - criminal, civil, administrative, or grand jury - within Massachusetts.