[prion]

Shielding the confidentiality of journalistic sources is a time-honored practice, held in the same regard -- at least until now -- as confidentiality between psychiatrists and patients, lawyers and clients, and priests and confessors.

A matter of tradition rather than law. Obviously, "freedom of the press" isn't freedom for members of the press to do anything they please.

If I were in their position, and I had given an anonymous source my word, I would consider my promise more binding than a judge's order. But I would expect to go to jail for it.

[geezerwheezer]

What would be funny as he** is if Rove let Cooper off the hook with the Special Prosecutor, and told Miller that since she worked for the NYT that he would not release her from their confidentiality agreement! Gosh, I would absolutely LOOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEEEE that to be true!!!! If I were Karl Rove, I would do anything to just pi$$ off the MSM, and what better way to do it than this?