Every state except one now has some form of a shield law designed to keep courts or judges from forcing news people to reveal confidential sources of information. At the same time, federal powers can supersede these laws.
However, in recent years there has been a more restrictive attitude toward press privileges.
It had always been assumed that if a law enforcement official that has taken charge of a crime scene grants you permission to go onto private property, a trespassing case won’t hold up. A recent court case is the one exception here. In some rather unusual circumstances, a judge upheld a trespassing case against a network ENG crew- even after a FBI agent specifically invited them to accompany them into an apartment during a drug bust.
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