Columbia University
New York City

November 24, 2004

Dear Senator Dodd,

We, the undersigned students and faculty of the Graduate School of
Journalism at Columbia University, would like to express our support for
the Free Speech Protection Act of 2004 to protect journalistic
confidentiality.

As journalists, we are deeply alarmed about the escalating efforts to
criminalize reporters such as Matthew Cooper of Time Magazine, Judith
Miller of The New York Times, and Jim Taricani of WJAR-TV (Rhode Island)
- reporters who have broken no law, but insist on maintaining the
confidentiality of their sources.

Source confidentiality is absolutely essential for journalists, just as
patient confidentiality is essential for doctors, and client
confidentiality is essential for lawyers. For journalists to perform
their critical function in a democracy, it is essential that sources,
especially whistleblowers, have confidence that they can maintain a
secure relationship with reporters.

Although 31 states and the District of Columbia have "shield laws"
designed to protect reporters and their sources, a federal law is
needed. We are grateful for your efforts to protect journalistic
confidentiality and enthusiastically call for the passage of the Free
Speech Protection Act of 2004.

Sincerely,

Cyrus Farivar (J '05)
Sam Gustin (J '05)

David Klatell, Vice Dean and Professor of Professional Practice
Josh Friedman, Director, International Program
Bruce Porter, Director
LynNell Hancock, Associate Professor
Jonnet Abeles, Director, Alfred I. duPont Awards (J '67)
John Dinges, Associate Professor
Sandy Padwe, Associate Professor
Addie M. Rimmer, Associate Professor
Barry Bearak, Visiting Professor
James Carey, CBS Professor of International Journalism
Sreenath Sreenivasan, Associate Professor of Professional Practice
Judith Matloff, Adjunct Professor

Kris Gillespie (J '05)
Hilary Russ (J '05)
Jennifer Fishbein-Gold (J '05)
Meredith Gordon (J '05)
Michael Rice (J '05)
Aaron Kinney (J '05)
Sara Hassan (J '05)
Anna Bengel (J '05)
Joshua Olesker (J '05)
Rachel Arnheiter (J '05)
Jennifer Grogan (J '05)
Jared Allen (J '05)
Andrew Clevenger (J '05)
Karen James (J '05)
Adam Howard (J '05)
Kristy Davis (J '05)
Nazanin Rafsanjani (J '05)
Stephen Ohlemacher (J '05)
Tom Namako (J '05)
Isabelle Dupuis (J '05)
Candace Jackson (J '05)
Jayanthi Kaur Daniel (J '05)
Ethan Sacks (J '05)
Lauren Mack (J '06)
Louise Story (J '05)
Aparna Mukherjee (J '05)
Maria Castro (J '05)
Nicole LaRosa (J '05)
Sophie Guite (J '05)
Leila Darabi (J '06)
Stefanie Cohen (J '05)
Katherine Kingsley (J '05)
Kristina Goetz (J '05)
Heather West (J '05)
Michael C. Keller (J '05)
Sara Blask (J '05)
Abby Gruen (J '05)
Annie Venesky (J '05)
Melia Patria (J '05)
Jessica Marmor (J '05)
Marlene Naanes (J '05)
Joe Orso (J '05)
Victoria Schlesinger (J '05)
Eliza Strickland (J '05)
Stacey Solie (J '05)
Gina Pace (J '05)
Claire Anderson (J '05)
Ross Schneiderman (J '05)
Zakir Hussain (J '05)
Kimberly Kinchen (J '05)
Lani Perlman (J '05)
Kristen Espeland (J '05)
Melissa A. Thomas (J '05)
Rachel Straus (J '05)
Nichole Marks (J '05)
Armen Avo Terjimanian (J '05)
Jim Willhite (J '05)
Kate O'Mara (J '05)
Brenda Iasevoli (J '05)
Alexandra Zabjek (J '05)
Benjamin Whitford (J '05)
Nyia Hawkins (J '05)
Rachel Leifer (J '05)
Stefanie Condie (J '05)
Walter Alarkon (J '05)
Serena Hedison (J '05)
Megan O'Neill (J '05)
Jennifer Lee (J '05)
Monica Potts (J '05)
Cassandra Uretz (J '05)
Amanda L. Bensen (J '05)
Jennifer Aurelie Weiss (J '05)
Ivan Karakashian (J '05)
Danit Lidor (J '05)
Katie Baker (J '05)
Susan K. Hong (J '05)
Roja Heydarpour (J '05)
Abeer Allam (J '05)
Andrew LaVallee (J '05)
David Bario (J '05)
Les McLain (J '05)
Maria Ahmed (J '05)
Joshua Boak (J '05)
Kirsten Saloomey (J '05)
Jennifer Jaloney (J '05)
Jim Higdon (J '05)
Emily Wilson (J '05)
Richard Schapiro (J '05)
Cristian Salazar (J '05)
Bethany Lye (J '05)
Billy Baker (J '05)
Thomas Scott Randall (J '05)
Joshua Norman (J '05)
Daniel Schulman (J '05)
Vivek Kemp (J '05)
Denise Carson (J '05)
Karla Adam (J '05)
Marlene Naanes (J '05)
Jennifer Maloney (J '05)
Catherine Shu (J '05)
Meredith Gordon (J '05)
Billy Baker (J '05)
Alan Bastable (J '05)
Ashley Kindergan (J '05)
James Fanelli (J '05)
Laura McCandlish (J '05)
Leslie Albrecht (J '05)
Sean M. Leahy (J '05)
Jennifer Grogan (J '05)
Moises Velasquez-Manoff (J '05)