1'. '
.
Bridge:
newsmen
must be
immune
by Tim Anderson and H.J. Cummins
A : lield law which doesn't grant a reporter total immunity
is no : ield at all, Peter Bridge told a University of Nebraska at
Oman; freedom of information seminar Thursday.
Bru spent 20 days in prison in 1972 for refusing to show
a judge . ublished parts of a Newark (N.J.) News story he
had written about an alledged bribing of a local housing
official.
Shield laws are statutes designed to protect a reporter from
having to reveal unpublished information or the source of
news stories.'
New Jersey has a shield law which protects newsmen,
Bridges said. But the law says reporters cannot invoke their
privilege in a courtroom cross-examination, he explained.
Sigma Delta Chi, a national journalism society, is trying to
push shield legislation through each state legislature and the
Congress.
"Before I went to jail, newspapermen were talking
publicly about enactment of a qualified immunity act," Bridge
said. "Now they agree the only effective immunity absolute
immunity. And this time (newsmen) are coming with the
people behind them."
Sources want to remain anonymous because they are afraid
of embarrassment, harassment or even death, he said.
A reporter promises a source anonymity when necessary
because "the single purpose for obtaining information is to get
it to the public," he said. 'The issue here is not the reporters'
rights it is every citizen's right to have a free flow of
information."
Bridge said reporters know the "real process" in Congress
and so will not let tne congressmen u -----
constituents. They usually water down a bill (by adding
amendments which erase its intent) and then pass it, telling
their constituency 'we've tried.'" he said, We know
better-nothing less than absolute immunity is enough.
He said there is irresponsibility in the press but I don t
think it can be legislated out of existence. I'd cast my lot with
newsmen for ability or fiber any day-before (I would with)
the Supreme Court, for example."
Omaha World-Herald city hall reporter David Thompson
said he doesn't believe the shield law will disallow the accused
(if a story discloses infromation about a government official,
for example) to be confronted by their accusor, that is, the
reporter. ,
David Hamer, assistant news director of KMTV, Omaha,
said his only concern is if Congress can pass legislation giving '
absolute protection to reporters, can they later take it away at
will?
Bridge indicated newsmen have turned to leqislators
because the 5-4 Supreme Court decision which ordered
subpoenaed reporters to testify at grand juries, left the press
no where else to turn.
Mick Rood, city news editor for the Omaha Sun
newspapers, said he agreed with a dissenting Supreme Court
Justice's statement that "the press has a prefered position in
our constitutional theme."
The press is responsible for protecting the Constitution by
aisseminaung inTormauon, noou miu, anu iu ay mcy mc i
not special is nonsense."
Excess plants afflict Lincoln lakes
by Ruth Ulrich
Eutrophication is a relatively new word in the
language of the layman, but it being used quite often
by zoologists, according to Gary Hergenrader, UNL
associate professor of zoology, Wednesday evening in
the Nebraska Union.
Hergenrader defined this term as "the increase in
nutrient content of a lake or pond with time" at the
second presentation the Environmental Information
Series. The series is sponsored jointly by the ASUN
Environmental Task Force and the Union Talks and
Topics Committee.
Limnologists, or specialists in the study of lakes,
are mostly concerned with its manifestations and
effects, he said. They usually talk about the
undesirable effects, but there also are desirable ones,
Hergenrader said.
They classify lakes according to their
productiveness. He said the two main classifications
are oligotrophic or unproductive takes, and eutrophic
or production lakes.
Lakj?! start out unproductive, he said, but lbeY
becmHrdSuetiife as nutrients, usuaHy-nitrogerrnd
rospfmrCW'mtroduced, by either 'hatOraTrVSTBy
man.
As the nutrients in a lake increase, the small plants
are eventually replaced by blue-green algae which
forms a scum on the surface of the lake, he explained.
As the number of plants increase, so does the number
of animals.
"Up to a point," he said, "it is well to have a
fertilized lake, but after that point even many fish
can no longer survive, and populations go out of
balance."
He went on to examine changes in the Salt Valley
Reservoirs, established as flood protection for
Lincoln.
Wagon Train nad Holmes Lakes have little
eutrophication. Hergenrader said this is because they
are always muddy. Therefore light, which is essential
for plant and animal life, cannot enter the water, he
said.
However, Pawnee, Branched Oak and Stagecoach,
which are Lincoln's Clearwater lakes, are filled with
dense growths of algae, he said. This growth occurs
because thev are constructed in extremely fertile
areas where they receive run-off nutrients from the
soil and from nearby feedlots.
If . lU -
X I -;rA "w
s'W "
II n i i i.hiih nH -ii J t'n ' - fKl
Gary Hergenrader, UNL zoologist . . .
discussed lakes and plant growth
Wednesday night at the second talk in
the Environmental Information Series.
Faculty member
co-authors book
A UNL faculty member is
the co-author of a new college
textbook on concepts and
theories of the sociology of
education.
Keith Prichard, UNL
associate professor of history
and philosophy of education,
wrote the text with Thomas H.
Buxton of the University of
South Carolina.
doily nebroslcon
Edltor-ln-Chlef : Tom Lansworth. Managing Editor: Cheryl Waste ott
News Editor: Michael (O.J.) Nelson.
Special Editor: Jim Gray. Sports Editor: Dave Slttler. Photography
Chief: Gall Folda. Nlaht Newt Editor: Ron Cllnaenoeel.
The Daily Nebraskan It written, edited and managed by student at
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It is editorially Independent of the
University faculty, administration and student body.
The Daily Nebraskan Is published by the Publications Committee on
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout the fall and
spring semesters except holidays and vacations.
Copyright 1973, The Daily Nebraskan. Material may be reprinted
without permission if attributed to the Daily Nebraskan, excepting
material covered by another copyright.
Second class postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska.
Address: The Daily Nebraskan34 Nebraska Unlon14th & R
StreetsLincoln, Nebr. 68508. Telephone: 4024722588.
i
It
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page 2
daily nebraskan
Today is Ourrifo Day
4 Meat Byrrifos
for $ 1 .08
end this weekend Sot. end Sun.
6 Tdtos for $1.00
When hunger hits remember Tcco Kid,
17th & Van Dorn
friday, february 9, 1973
4 444dAij6.f
