Earl caldwell-earl caldwell is a nationally-renowned journalist whose career spans more than four decades. he currently holds three titles. at hampton university he is the scripps howard endowed professor of journalism. in new york city, he is host and producer of the pacifica radio broadcast, the caldwell chronicle. his other title is that of oral historian, a position he holds with the robert c. maynard institute for journalism education where he directs the history project.as a journalist, earl caldwell was the central figure in one of the centurys most celebrated cases involving reporters rights.in its 1972 branzburg decision, the supreme court of the united states, defining reporters rights, considered three cases. the central case in that - united states v. caldwell -involved new york times reporter earl caldwell and his refusal to appear before a federal grand jury and disclose confidential information involving his sources in the black panther party. in a historic ruling, the united states court of appeals for the ninth circuit supported caldwells position. that decision was reversed with the branzburg ruling. however, for caldwell, that 5-4 decision remains tainted, as the deciding vote was cast by then associate justice william rehnquist who, as a u.s. justice department lawyer, had been intimately involved in the caldwell case.