Chapter 40: Oklahoma Evidence Code · Last amended November 1, 2002 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 2506 shields a journalist from having to disclose a source or unpublished information in a state proceeding unless the party seeking it proves, by clear and convincing evidence, that it's relevant to a significant issue and unobtainable through reasonable diligence elsewhere.
1."State proceeding" includes any proceeding or investigation before or by any judicial, legislative, executive or administrative body in this state;
2."Medium of communication" includes any newspaper, magazine, other periodical, book, pamphlet, news service, wire service, news or feature syndicate, broadcast station or network, cable television system, or record;
3."Information" includes any written, oral or pictorial news or other record;
4."Published information" means any information disseminated to the public by the person from whom disclosure is sought;
5."Unpublished information" includes information not disseminated to the public by the person from whom disclosure is sought, whether or not related information has been disseminated, and includes, but is not limited to, all notes, outtakes, photographs, tapes or other data of whatever sort not itself disseminated to the public through a medium of communication, whether or not published information based upon or related to such material has been disseminated;
6."Processing" includes compiling, storing and editing of information; and
7."Journalist" means any person who is a reporter, photographer, editor, commentator, journalist, correspondent, announcer, or other individual regularly engaged in obtaining, writing, reviewing, editing, or otherwise preparing news for any newspaper, periodical, press association, newspaper syndicate, wire service, radio or television station, or other news service. Any individual employed by any such news service in the performance of any of the above-mentioned activities shall be deemed to be regularly engaged in such activities. However, journalist shall not include any governmental entity or individual employed thereby engaged in official governmental information activities.
B.No journalist shall be required to disclose in a state proceeding either:
1.The source of any published or unpublished information obtained in the gathering, receiving or processing of information for any medium of communication to the public; or
2.Any unpublished information obtained or prepared in gathering, receiving or processing of information for any medium of communication to the public; unless the court finds that the party seeking the information or identity has established by clear and convincing evidence that such information or identity is relevant to a significant issue in the action and could not with due diligence be obtained by alternate means.
This subsection does not apply with respect to the content or source of allegedly defamatory information, in a civil action for defamation wherein the defendant asserts a defense based on the content or source of such information.
Amendment History
Laws 1978, SB 276, c. 285, § 506, eff. 10/1/1978; Amended by Laws 2002, HB 1939, c. 468, §36,
eff. 11/1/2002.
Plain-English Summary
Section 2506 is Oklahoma's journalist shield law. Subsection A defines its key terms broadly: a "journalist" is anyone regularly engaged in gathering, writing, or editing news for a newspaper, wire service, broadcast station, or similar news outlet -- but not a government employee doing official public-information work. "Published information" is what's already been disseminated to the public; "unpublished information" covers everything else the journalist gathered, including notes, outtakes, and raw footage never disseminated.
Subsection B bars compelling a journalist to disclose either a source of published or unpublished information, or unpublished information itself, unless the party seeking it shows by clear and convincing evidence that the information is relevant to a significant issue in the case and can't be obtained through due diligence by other means. That protection doesn't extend to a defamation suit in which the defendant's own defense relies on the content or source of the disputed information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies as a "journalist" under Section 2506?
Anyone regularly engaged in obtaining, writing, reviewing, or editing news for a newspaper, periodical, wire service, or broadcast station -- but the section excludes government employees doing official information work.
Can a court ever force a journalist to reveal a confidential source?
Yes, but only if the party seeking disclosure proves by clear and convincing evidence that the source or information is relevant to a significant issue and can't be obtained elsewhere through due diligence.
Does the shield law apply in a defamation lawsuit?
Not when the defendant's defense in the defamation case depends on the content or source of that same information -- Section 2506(B)(2) excludes that situation.
What's the difference between "published" and "unpublished" information under this section?
Published information has already been disseminated to the public; unpublished information -- notes, outtakes, tapes, and similar material -- has not, whether or not related published material exists.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:oklahoma journalist shield lawreporter's privilege oklahomaprotect confidential news source oklahoma12 O.S. § 2506