United States: Mississippi Court Orders Pulitzer Prize Winner Anna Wolfe to Disclose Confidential Sources
Women Press Freedom believes decision poses grave threat to press freedom, it must be swiftly overturned
Location: United States, Mississippi
Date: June 11, 2024
A Mississippi court has issued a controversial mandate requiring journalist Anna Wolfe and her colleagues at Mississippi Today to reveal their confidential sources in a defamation case by former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. This decision follows Wolfe's investigative reporting on a significant welfare scandal implicating Bryant. Wolfe and her editor, Adam Ganucheau, are currently appealing this ruling, to protect the identities of those who contributed to their Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation. If upheld, this order not only jeopardizes the safety and anonymity of these sources but also sends a worrying message to journalists across the country. Women Press Freedom calls on the Mississippi Supreme Court to overturn this court order and reaffirm the essential role of a free press in a democratic society
Former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant filed a defamation lawsuit against journalist Anna Wolfe and Mississippi Today following her exposé that revealed the misallocation of $77 million in federal welfare funds under his administration. Central to Wolfe's reporting are allegations of misconduct involving Bryant and NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre.
Initially filed against Mississippi Today and its CEO Mary Margaret White, Bryant expanded his lawsuit to include Wolfe and editor Adam Ganucheau, citing specific articles published by Wolfe that allegedly defamed him.
On June 11, 2024, the Circuit Court of Madison County, Mississippi, ruled in favor of Bryant. Its order compels Wolfe and Ganucheau to disclose documents identifying their sources. The court justified its decision by citing the absence of a recognized First Amendment reporter's privilege in Mississippi's appellate courts and the relevance of confidential information to Bryant's defamation claims.
Both Wolfe and Ganucheau believe that complying with the court's order would violate journalistic principles and erode public trust in investigative reporting. The journalists have appealed the decision to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
“How can I make promises to sources that I’m going to keep them confidential if this is possible?” Wolfe told NBC News, referring to the court order.
Ganucheau explained their decision to appeal further in a New York Times op-ed, “Breaching the confidentiality of sources violates one of the most sacred trusts — and breaks one of the most vital tools — in investigative journalism… No serious news organization would agree to this demand.”
In a similar striking case of judicial overreach that harms press freedom, in February 2024, journalist Catherine Herridge faced contempt charges for refusing to disclose sources related to a 2017 Fox News investigation. The former CBS reporter has appealed the decision. Legal penalties against Herridge are pending the outcome of her appeal.
In response to both cases, Women Press Freedom reiterates its call for the government to urgently enact the PRESS Act. This federal shield law is designed to safeguard journalists' communications records from government interference, with limited exceptions for cases involving national security.
“How can I make promises to sources that I’m going to keep them confidential if this is possible?”
Despite bipartisan support and approval from the House, the PRESS Act remains stalled in the Senate. In May 2024, Women Press Freedom, alongside the Freedom of the Press Foundation and other advocates, called on Senator Dick Durbin to urgently advance the legislation through the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Women Press Freedom firmly supports Wolfe and her colleagues and urges the Mississippi Supreme Court to overturn the unjust decision of the lower court. The absence of a shield law in Mississippi leaves its journalists vulnerable to these legal actions that impede their ability to report on matters of public interest without fear of reprisal. The federal PRESS Act would address this legal gap, the Senate must do all within its power to pass this important legislation that will strengthen protections for investigative journalism nationwide and deter powerful figures from using the courts to target critical journalists.
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