Media and national security

In recent years, media freedom advocates and academics have been alarmed at the ways in which national security legislation has eroded the ability of journalists to investigate government and protect their sources. Analysts believe this is because of the alarming pace of expanded national security powers combined with a lack of any explicit legislated protections for media freedom. This piece examines the trends since the attacks of 11 September 2001 and concludes that a Media Freedom Act is urgently needed to protect the media’s democratic role.