Anthony Fargo

Associate Professor and Director of the Center for International Media Law and Policy Studies

The Media School

"Why Leaks Are Good — Except When They Aren't" | Government officials and journalists play an intricate game of leaking and reporting dating back to the republic’s early days. Sometimes, however, the most interesting and revealing leaks are unauthorized and, sometimes, perilous. This can lead to tense confrontations between authorities and the press over the protection of sources and the prosecution of whistleblowers who reveal classified information. There are ways to ease the tensions, including improving whistleblower protection laws, reforming the document classification system, and shifting the focus of the journalist’s privilege to sources instead of reporters. None of these things is easy.