Student media advisers should generally not be told the identity of their students' confidential sources.

The federal Privacy Protection Act generally prohibits law enforcement officials from searching newsrooms as part of a criminal investigation even if they have a search warrant.

If you make a promise to a source that you will keep his or her identity secret, you must be prepared to keep that promise no matter what.

Reporter's privilege laws only protect professional journalists.

A public high school principal has the authority to require student journalists to disclose the identity of their confidential sources.

If properly served with a court-issued subpoena, journalists must immediately comply with its demands to testify or turn over confidential information.

Going "off the record" is a clearly defined legal term.

Because they are usually minors, high school journalists cannot be fined or jailed for refusing a judge's order to disclose the identity of a secret source.

Breaking a promise to keep a confidential source's name secret can land a reporter in both ethical and legal hot water.