SOS for SF sportswriters

The Newspaper Guild is rallying support nationwide for two San Francisco sportswriters facing jail for refusing to reveal their confidential sources.

Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams of the San Francisco Chronicle drew nationwide attention to baseball's steroid scandal by publishing grand jury testimony that had been leaked to them. Now federal prosecutors are demanding they testify to another grand jury about that leak. They won't do it, and a judge could decide this Thursday, Sept. 21, to jail them for that refusal.

Here's how you can help: e-mail guild@cwa-union.org with the following statement attached:

"I am opposed to the subpoena of Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, demanding them to reveal their private sources, and I support their right, and the right of all journalists, to be fully protected by the First Amendment and its clear provision for freedom of the press."

When replying include your: Name, Newspaper or other Affiliation, Position Held (e.g. Sports Writer, Sales Person, Copy Editor) and Date.