Yes, and that's what journalists want to mean when they promise to protect their sources. Now, a state might have a shield law (I believe most do), but they do

Yes, and that's what journalists want to mean when they promise to protect their sources. Now, a state might have a shield law (I believe most do), but they don't apply at the federal level. Anyways, that there is not federal shield law is why journalists generally make a big deal out of them protecting their sources. If it was a matter of course, a protection they were guaranteed, then it really wouldn't be a big deal. It would be a meaningless platitude.