Let it flow: Effort to protect media, sources deserves support in Legislature

The Rio Grande Valley is known for many things. Unfortunately, one of them is corruption.

Rooting it out begins with exposing it, and that depends largely with the ability of people to expose misdeeds without the fear of recrimination.

Unfortunately, Texas is one of several states where reporters can't promise that they'll never reveal the identity of people who have important information but don't want their identity known.

Many state lawmakers have tried to provide protections for news outlets and those who give them information in confidence, so far without success. To his credit, Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, is one legislator who has supported the free and protected flow of information.

Their latest bill to protect people and the reporters who deal with them is scheduled to be heard Monday before the state House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee.

One member of the committee is Rep. Armando Martinez, D-Weslaco. People who believe that people should be able to give information about public corruption in confidence should contact his office to show their support for the Free Flow of Information Act, House Bill 670.

Martinez's Capitol phone number is (512) 463-0530; his Weslaco office number is (956) 447-9473. The office is listed at 800 West Railroad St., Room H-111 in Weslaco.

It's no secret that exposing corruption, crime or even unsafe practices in workplaces, often depends on information who fear that they might face retribution, or might even be in danger, if their identity were revealed. Courts, grand juries and lawyers also can order reporters and their employers to turn over all notes, raw videotapes and other information regarding investigation. Some lawyers have abused this right by subpeoning reporters' notes on accidents in order to file lawsuits.

Opponents of the Free Flow Act say it would close off access to valuable infomation; under the bill, courts can decide if the information is vital to a criminal or civil case and request it.

It's worth noting that 36 states already have the protections offered in the proposed bill. If they limited officials' ability to render justice, district attorneys surely would have sought to have the protections repealed; no state has done so.

Open government relies on a free press and its ability to expose misdeeds. Often that relies on its ability to protect people who have important information but have valid fears about divulging it.

We hope Rep. Martinez and his colleagues recognize that fact, and add Texas to the list of states where information flows freely.