THREATS: Lawsuits and Reporting on National Security and Other Issues

Investigative journalists throughout the world face legal threats. This panel will look at how lawsuits have put a chill on watchdog journalism in the US and elsewhere. It will focus on the threats to national-security reporting, particularly the legal pressures on journalists to reveal their sources. Lucy Dalglish of the Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press will provide a broad overview on the legal threats and challenges faced by US journalists. James Risen, who covers national security for The New York Times, has been put under surveillance and subpoenaed in court and being compelled to reveal the sources for his 2006 book on the CIA. He will speak on the pressures put on US journalists covering national-security issues. Roman Shleynov of Novaya Gazeta will address challenges faced by Russian journalists reporting on national security issues, and Harinder Baweja will discuss threats to journalists reporting on national security in India.
Moderator: John Dinges, professor, Columbia Journalism School Lucy Dalglish, executive director, Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press: Legal threats and challenges faced by investigative reporters in the United States James Risen, reporter for The New York Times and author of State of War, about the CIA: Protection of sources and threats on national security reporting. Roman Shleynov, investigations editor, Novaya Gazeta (Russia): Challenges in covering national security issues for journalists in Russia. Harinder Baweja, news and investigations editor, Tehelka: Threats to journalists reporting on national security in India.