If privacy can be taken out of the media, can it also be taken out of the dictionary?

In the wake of last week’s decision by New York Times reporter Judith Miller to accept a jail term rather than give up the name of a private source, the question of privacy has come into question.

When a reporter finds sources to gain background notes on a story, some of these sources receive a promise of anonymity. The Miller case tested such a promise to the degree of jail time for not revealing a private source to a grand jury. Miller was sentenced for contempt.

We live in a country where you can find a house via computer by simply entering a phone number into Google. You can be located anywhere by GPS tracking through your cell phone. At any stop light or expressway, cameras can find their way into your car and identify exactly who you are and what you have just done.

To remain anonymous is becoming virtually impossible. Miller made an effort to hold to a promise, something that is respectable. Due to Miller’s class, an individual and his or her information have remained as close to anonymous as possible in today’s society.

“The First Amendment is nearly absolute in its protection to publish, but it is far less categorical in protecting the news-gathering process,” said a July 1 Wall Street Journal staff editorial. The final product may be protected, but it appears the process is being broken down by the federal government.

In no way should a federal body be able to force a reporter to spill names of individuals. Miller did a noble and honorable thing by refusing to break a promise. She took the threats and the punishment, but never broke.

“She is surrendering her liberty in defense of a greater liberty,” said Thursday’s New York Times staff editorial accepting Miller’s choice.

In our camera-followed, intrusive and impersonal world, it is great to see honor and promises have not been cast to the wayside.

Privacy and promises should be kept. When one person is able to respect anonymity and wishes to remain so, they should be celebrated, not jailed.

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