The main panel dealt with new information restrictions, and how that affects media professionals. More specifically, discussion focused on Subtitle I (“Information Sharing”) of the Homeland Security Act, which requires the president to develop a policy on protecting Sensitive Homeland Security Information. The panel worried about the possible chilling effects this could have, along with implications for government accountability, and explored avenues available to the media to obtain information. It was also noted that the media has not adequately covered the topic of information restrictions, possibly because of reluctance to misuse their influence for self-serving purposes.
The panel was moderated by Terence Smith, media correspondent from the Lehrer Newshour, and participants included Scott Armstrong, executive director of the Information Trust, Tom Bettag, executive producer of Nightline, Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio Television News Directors Association, Tom Gjelton, correspondent for Nation Public Radio, Bill Leonard, director of the Information Security Oversight Office, Jack Nelson, former D.C. bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times, and Jeff Smith, former general counsel of the CIA.