[Steel Wolf]

In my opinion, newspapers shouldn't be forced to reveal sources, but if the "source" claims something libelous that the paper prints, it should have the choice of revealing the source so he can face the lawsuit, or taking sole responsibility for any libelous content and facing the suit itself.

Just out of curiosity, how would you apply that to the disclosure of classified material? In that case, the source of the information has entered into a written contract with the U.S. government not to disclose the information, in the interest of national security. Would you treat that the same? Give the newspaper the option of revealing the source, or accepting civil liability for the results of the disclosure?

[Young Scholar]

That would certainly depend on the nature of the classified material. If it consisted of trade secrets, civil liability might be an appropriate recourse, in which case the same principle could certainly apply.

If the classified material consisted of national security secrets, that would be a whole different issue, and I doubt the principle would be applicable.