Freedom of the press is intended to keep the government honest. The basic premise being that the government should not be trusted, as outlined in the many writings by our founding fathers -- and as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
One of the most fundamental tools of freedom of the press is the reporter's ability to provide source anonymity (albeit sometimes at the expense of credibility).
We shouldn't let the government prevent anonymity or we cannot maintain the free press as a watch dog institution. As Dr. Phil says, "Monsters live in the dark".
"Government whistle blowers face a brave new world. It is a world where champions of good government are silenced and reporters who speak truth to power are jailed." -- Joe Scarborough
Jailing journalist undermines good government - Scarborough Country - MSNBC.com
