ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Reporter's privilege

Hi there! Do you know what a reporter is? A reporter is someone who writes news stories for a newspaper, magazine, or website. They talk to people and gather information to put together a story. Sometimes, reporters might have information that is very important for the public to know, but they might not want to share it because it's private or secret.

This is where reporter's privilege comes in. Reporter's privilege is the idea that reporters can keep some information confidential if they got it from a source who wanted to stay anonymous or if the information is sensitive. It’s like a secret promise that reporters make to their sources to keep their identity and information private.

But why do reporters need this privilege? Well, if reporters didn't have this privilege, some people might not want to talk to them. For instance, if a reporter was working on a story about a dangerous situation, sources might not want to talk because they'd be worried about getting in trouble or being harmed. If reporters can keep sources anonymous, it helps people feel more comfortable sharing information.

However, reporter’s privilege is not absolute. That means that there are some cases where reporters might have to share information with the courts or police. This usually happens if the information is really important, and can save lives or prevent someone from getting hurt. For example, if a reporter knew about a planned terrorist attack, the court might force them to share that information so that people can be saved.

So, in short, reporter’s privilege is the idea that reporters can keep some information confidential to help protect their sources or sensitive information. But, if the information is really important, they might have to share it with the courts or police.