The downside of jailing reporters

Upside, of course, is the public gets to stick it to the media, and everyone hates the media, right?

Downside?

Your run-of-the-mill crooked local politicos love it when reporters get jailed for protecting confidential sources. 'Cause fewer confidential sources (and media organizations) will be willing to stick their necks out.

Heber Taylor of the Galveston paper recalls the small town scoop in East Texas he got when an anonymous source slipped him the records about the city garage.
[galveston county daily news]