The opinion of the Court was delivered by
WILENTZ, C. J.
We are asked in this case to review the order of a trial court directing Robin Goldstein, a newspaper reporter, to produce a letter for in camera inspection sent to her by Patrick J. Pizuto, a prospective prosecution witness in a criminal trial. Seeking to use the letter to impeach Pizuto’s testimony, four defendants at the trial applied for judicial enforcement of a subpoena duces tecum served on Goldstein on March 31, 1980. The reporter claimed the protection of the newsperson’s privilege, Evid.R. 27,1 [449]*449and moved to quash the subpoena on April 3. After a hearing on April 14, the trial court ordered production of the letter for in camera inspection under the authority of section 4 of Chapter 479, Laws of 1979, N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-21.4, the new shield law. After the Appellate Division denied review, we granted Gold-stein’s leave to appeal and stayed the trial court’s order. We now hold that defendants have failed to satisfy the requirements for that production order under the new law. Specifically they have not demonstrated, by a preponderance of the evidence, the non-availability of less intrusive sources which provide information substantially similar to that contained in the letter. Accordingly, we reverse the determination of the trial court requiring production pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-21.4 of the letter sent to Ms. Goldstein. Such reversal is without prejudice to further application by defendants to secure the letter, with full opportunity to establish the absence of less intrusive sources.
Although the issue presented by Ms. Goldstein’s appeal— whether a reporter is required to turn over information for in camera inspection by a trial judge in a criminal case — -has been addressed and resolved by this Court in In re Myron Farber, 78 N.J. 259 (1978) (hereinafter Farber), our holding there must be supplemented, since subsequent to Farber the Legislature amended the shield law then in effect, L.1960, c. 52, p. 458, § 21, amended L.1977, c. 253, §§ 1 and 2 (N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-21 and 21a), codifying the two-step structure of the Farber procedural guidelines. 78 N.J. at 276-77. We conclude that the new shield law embodies those protections of reporters contained in the prior law as it was interpreted in Farber, adding only the requirement that a defendant seeking information in a newsperson’s possession must prove that, on balance, the value of the particular information to a fair trial outweighs the importance to a free press of shielding that information from disclosure. However, a resolution of that balance in this case is unnecessary at this point, because defendants have failed to show that the information sought is not available through a less intrusive [450]*450source as is required by the new law.2 A careful review of the facts before us will reveal the deficiencies in the defendants’ case, when measured against the procedural burdens established by the new law.
I.
The defendants 3 who seek production and eventual disclosure of the letter in Ms. Goldstein’s possession are presently on trial for loan sharking, bookmaking, extortion, armed robbery, threatening to kill, obtaining money by false pretenses, and conspiracy to commit these and other offenses. Defendant DeVingo has also been indicted for murder.4 These charges are apparently based to a significant extent on evidence obtained through the cooperation of Pizuto, an alleged former confederate of defendants and the author of the letter in Goldstein’s possession. Although the State has not definitely indicated whether it will call Pizuto as a witness, he is clearly a potential source of relevant and material testimony. The record indicates that he may possess extensive knowledge of the criminal operations of defendants. He has claimed that for many months he covertly recorded incriminating conversations between himself and defendants. He has also stated he was an eye witness to the murder allegedly committed by defendant DeVingo.
The particular material sought by defendants is a letter sent by Pizuto to Goldstein, a reporter with the Daily Register of Monmouth County, who has been covering the story involving defendants for over two years. Defendants claim that the letter probably contains material that would aid in the impeachment [451]*451of Pizuto'on cross-examination after he has testified on the State’s behalf. Specifically, they claim that there is a reasonable probability that the letter describes an alleged “deal” between Pizuto and the State as well as Pizuto’s subsequent dissatisfaction with the State for reneging on that deal. This information, defendants argue, is probably inconsistent with testimony Pizuto gave under oath when entering a plea of guilty to an unrelated murder pursuant to a plea bargain in September 1978. In those proceedings, Pizuto stated on the record that in exchange for his cooperation the State had promised that he would receive a sentence of no more than 15 years in prison. He assured the court that no other promise was made.5 He further asserted that his cooperation and his determination to tell all that he knew had nothing to do with any promise by the State. Instead, he explained that his willingness to help the State was derived from his decision to become a new person, a new man; to live a different life.
Based on information defendants have received from Pizuto himself, they contend that the information contained in the letter will prove to be clearly inconsistent with Pizuto’s sworn testimony about his motivations for cooperating with the State, and that such inconsistency will have a profound effect on Pizuto’s credibility as a witness for the State. It appears that after Pizuto’s plea was entered for the unrelated murder charge, he was secretly “relocated” by federal authorities (under the federal witness protection program) in order to ensure his safety between the entry of his guilty plea and his ultimate cooperation as a prosecution witness.
One month before the trial against defendants was to begin Pizuto reportedly changed his mind, and decided that he would not cooperate with the State. Stories appeared in the media [452]*452attributing statements to Pizuto that the State had “reneged” on its “deal” and that he was going to “tell all.” These statements implied that he would reveal some embarrassing information about the way the State had handled his case. The stories provoked speculation about Pizuto’s continued willingness to testify and the State’s continued interest in using him as a witness. This speculation has yet to be resolved.
Pizuto’s decision to terminate cooperation with the State appears to have resulted from the State’s suggestion to the sentencing judge in the unrelated murder case that Pizuto receive a fairly substantial sentence of imprisonment. He appears to have viewed the suggestion as a breach of the agreement the State made with him. According to Pizuto he was assured that he would serve little or no time in jail. He claimed this breach was an example of the State’s allegedly unfair and improper conduct in this case.
Pizuto’s claims were essentially repeated by his attorney at the sentencing proceedings. Pizuto and his wife sent letters to the sentencing judge; they presumably contained information about the same matters. The judge imposed a sentence of 8 to 12 years imprisonment, well within the bargained term of no more than 15 years imprisonment that Pizuto had described in sworn testimony. Pizuto is now incarcerated in the Passaic County Jail, where he has been since March 6, when his bail was revoked on the unrelated murder charge.
Ms. Goldstein’s connection with defendants’ case, and with Pizuto himself, apparently developed in the course of her coverage of the trial since September 1978. Her coverage enabled her to gain Pizuto’s confidence, and she wrote numerous stories in which Pizuto was quoted, sometimes directly. Defendant Montemarano was aware of her interest in the case as well as her ability to get information from Pizuto because of the trust and confidence Pizuto had in her. Montemarano was the only witness called by defendants to testify in the proceedings from which Goldstein appeals, in which he described her coverage of [453]*453the case and also recounted numerous telephone conversations he had with Pizuto. During Montemarano’s testimony,6 he revealed that approximately one year before defendants’ trial began, while Pizuto was still out on bail, Pizuto advised him on the telephone that “one of these days” he was going to send letters to the press about the conduct of the Attorney General’s office toward him as well as information about the deal that he had made with the State. Numerous telephone conversations between Pizuto and Montemarano followed. Shortly after the trial commenced, Pizuto called Montemarano from jail and advised him that “the letters had been sent to the press,” which statement carried with it the clear expectation that their substance was to be published by the recipient of the letters. After waiting several days and finding no such publication in the press, Montemarano, who had concluded that the letters were probably sent to Goldstein because of her relationship with Pizuto, asked her if she had received them. Ms. Goldstein said that she had but refused to discuss their contents, and indicated that they would not be published. Such decision not to publish was the subject of continued conversation between defendant Montemarano and Goldstein.
According to Montemarano, Pizuto, in one of the phone conversations between them, described the contents of the letter. It was subsequently represented by Ms. Goldstein’s counsel that she had received from Pizuto one letter consisting of two handwritten pages, “designated as being confidential by Mr. Pizuto.” Montemarano revealed in that testimony that he had recorded this particular telephone conversation with Pizuto, as well as all other telephone conversations between them. He [454]*454intends to produce these recordings for use at some point in the trial. Montemarano also testified that shortly after he learned of the letter and spoke to Ms. Goldstein about its publication, he informed his attorney about it and this information was transmitted to all other defense counsel. At that time, defense counsel, specifically Mr. DeVingo’s, subpoenaed Goldstein to produce the letter from Pizuto. As mentioned previously, Gold-stein moved to quash the subpoena in exercise of her newsperson’s privilege, and the trial court, pursuant to the new shield law, held the hearing required by that statute to determine whether she should be ordered to turn the letter over for in camera inspection by the court. These proceedings culminated in an order for production for in camera inspection, which order is now before us for review.
II.
In recent years conflicts between rights of fair trial and free press have frequently emerged on the judicial battleground. The dilemma posed by the clash of these basic constitutional principles manifests itself in a variety of factual settings. Among them are attempts to control prejudicial publicity against defendants through use of closure or “gag” orders imposed on trial participants or the press and attempts to provide live broadcast coverage of criminal pretrial and trial proceedings. The situation now before us presents perhaps the most profound conflict: a request by a criminal defendant for confidential information in the possession of a reporter who is unwilling to reveal the source of the information or the information itself. In Estes v. Texas, 381 U.S. 532, 85 S.Ct. 1628, 14 L.Ed.2d 543 (1965), the United States Supreme Court stated that:
The free press has been a mighty catalyst in awakening public interest in governmental affairs, exposing corruption among public officers and employees and generally informing the citizenry of public events and occurrences, including court proceedings. While maximum freedom must be allowed the press in [455]*455carrying on this important function in a democratic society, its exercise must necessarily be subject to the maintenance of absolute fairness in the judicial process. [381 U.S. at 539, 85 S.Ct. at 1631, 14 L.Ed.2d at 699].
However, in Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart, 427 U.S. 539, 96 S.Ct. 2791, 49 L.Ed.2d 683 (1976), that same Court expressly rejected the task of assigning priority to either the First Amendment or the Sixth Amendment, determining that neither set of rights was entitled per se to precedence. 427 U.S. at 561, 96 S.Ct. at 2803, 49 L.Ed.2d at 699. As a result of this holding, it is necessary in each case where a fair trial and a free press are at odds to balance the particular interests involved, and consider, under the precise facts before the court, whether and in what manner a reconciliation of competing interests may be accomplished that will cause minimum interference with the rights of the parties. CBS, Inc. v. Superior Court, 85 Cal.App.3d 241, 252-253, 149 Cal.Rptr. 421, 427 (Ct.App.1978).
The issue now before us — the compulsion of reporters to divulge confidential information in criminal proceedings — was addressed by the United States Supreme Court in Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, 92 S.Ct. 2646, 33 L.Ed.2d 626 (1972), albeit in a grand jury rather than a Sixth Amendment context. In Branzburg, the Court held that reporters had no First Amendment privilege of nondisclosure of confidential information when such information was sought by a grand jury properly investigating criminal conduct. Two years later, when faced with a claim of executive privilege, that Court reasserted the primacy of the need for the full production of evidence in criminal proceedings. In United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 94 S.Ct. 3090, 41 L.Ed.2d 1039 (1974), the Court emphasized that:
We have elected to employ an adversary system of criminal justice in which the parties contest all issues before a court of law. The need to develop all relevant [456]*456facts in the adversary system is both fundamental and comprehensive. The ends of criminal justice would be defeated if judgments were to be founded on a partial or speculative presentation of the facts. The very integrity of the judicial system and public confidence in the system depend on full disclosure of all the facts, within the framework of the rules of evidence. To ensure that justice is done, it is imperative to the function of courts that compulsory process be available for the production of evidence needed either by the prosecution or by the defense. [418 U.S. at 709, 94 S.Ct. at 3108, 41 L.Ed.2d at 1069],
In Farber, this Court was faced with the task of applying the principles of Branzburg and Nixon to a situation where a newsperson relied upon reportorial privilege to resist a defendant’s subpoena for the production of confidential information in a criminal proceeding. Because the Court in Branzburg created, at best, a qualified privilege against forced disclosure,7 a reporter’s privilege would necessarily yield unless bottomed on the protection derived from a state constitutional or statutory provision. “It goes without saying, of course, that we are powerless to bar state courts from responding in their own way and construing their own constitutions so as to recognize a newsman’s privilege, either qualified or absolute.8 408 U.S. at 706, 92 S.Ct. at 2669, 33 L.Ed.2d at 654.
[457]*457In Farber, we disposed of the possibility that an absolute newsperson’s privilege existed under New Jersey law. We there held that the privilege created by N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-21, was intended by the Legislature to be as broad as possible. But see 78 N.J. at 288, Pashman, J., dissenting — Legislature intended the privilege to be absolute; id. at 300-301. Handler, J., dissenting — Legislature meant to qualify privilege. Given the circumstances before us in that case, we held the statutory privilege must yield to the accused’s right to compulsory process given by the New Jersey Constitution, see 78 N.J. at 274, and stated that the same result would obtain under the Sixth Amendment, id. at 272.
While Farber does not, in conceptual terms, indicate just how far the Legislature can go in New Jersey in support of a newsperson’s privilege in the face of a Sixth Amendment demand for evidence, no claim has been made here that the new shield law cannot constitutionally be given full force and effect.9 Absent, therefore, any clear impingement on Sixth Amendment rights, the Court’s task is simply to determine the legislative intent and to construe the statute accordingly.
[458]*458The prior history of the legislation indicates an intent to provide newspeople with as broad a privilege against disclosure as can be reconciled with a defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights by insuring a careful analysis of the respective interests involved, and a balance between them on the facts of each case.
The language of the new shield law comports with this intent.10 Essentially it embodies the procedural protections of [459]*459Farber complemented by the provision that the value of the material sought as it bears upon the issues of guilt or innocence must outweigh the privilege against disclosure. It can be assumed from this addition that what the Legislature clearly contemplated was a balancing of the interests served by compulsory process in criminal cases against those served by the protection of a newsperson’s confidential sources and information, once the strengths of the competing interests had been demonstrated through a showing of relevance, materiality and necessity to the defense, in addition to nonavailability through a less intrusive source. The allocation of the burden of proof in this section, particularly in regard to the ad hoc balancing to be conducted in each situation that presents this conflict, puts the newsperson in the favored position, for it is the defendant who has the burden, by a preponderance of the evidence, of proving that that balance of interests is in his favor. In addition, the new law requires that any claim of waiver of the privilege be proved by clear and convincing evidence, an allocation of burden also favoring the newsperson. Finally, the protection afforded a reporter against the disclosure in camera to a judge is just as great as that given to disclosure to the parties themselves after judicial review, a further indication that the newsperson’s privilege is favored in the statute.
In short, the statute leaves reporters far from helpless. Rather, it imposes a burden on criminal defendants to prove affirmatively a clear need for the material sought; and even where such proof is forthcoming it leaves the court free in each case to [460]*460make an informed judgment concerning the relative weight of the interests involved.11
III.
The reason the new law allows nondisclosure by a reporter when there are less intrusive sources is clear: if substantially similar material can be obtained from other sources, both the confidentiality needed by the press and the interests of the defendants are protected. What is not always clear, however, is that these alternative sources add up to substantially the same material as that in the newsperson’s possession since that material is not “known,” i. e., when in camera inspection is sought, the parties’ proof as to what is in the material (which only the newsperson’s counsel may have seen) is necessarily circumstantial, based on probabilities. This kind of proof, an accepted everyday occurrence at trials, is apparently unsettling when that which is sought to be proved is a readily available physical object, e. g., a letter, inspection of which would dispose of the question with certainty. Certainty here, however, has a cost: sacrifice of the very interest — confidentiality—sought to be protected by these statutory procedures.
This unwillingness, despite the interests of the press, to accept probabilities when certainty is at hand provokes the dissent. It notes that there is absolutely no way to know what is in the letter other than by reading it. This observation permeates all the other issues raised. The logical progression of this argument would lead to the conclusion that whenever the informa[461]*461tion possessed by the reporter is in written form, including her own notes, the writings would invariably have to be produced if relevant, no matter how abundant the less intrusive sources of the same material, since one would never be sure that they were precisely the same. This result would attach regardless of the form, tangible or intangible, that the information was in. For example, if Pizuto had conveyed the information to Ms. Gold-stein over the telephone, or during a face-to-face discussion, and she had kept that information “in her head,” the only “sure” way of ascertaining same would be to put Ms. Goldstein on the stand and recreate that which was recounted to her. Similarly, if during such a telephone or face-to-face conversation, she took notes, the only “sure” way of obtaining the information contained in those notes would be to require their production. Thus, a rule that would require production of Pizuto’s letter, irrespective of the availability of substantially similar information, would make the notion of a newsperson’s privilege nothing more than an empty promise — the reasoning behind such rule would require the production of everything.
The new law does not require Ms. Goldstein to show that other, less intrusive sources probably contain the same information as that found in the letter; rather the defendant has the burden to prove that it is reasonably probable that this information can not be secured from any less intrusive source. The defendants here have fallen far short of meeting this burden. That the charges are most serious, while not beside the point, does not relieve them of meeting that burden.12 All that defendants have proven with “reasonable probability” is that Pizuto stated in the letter that the State had promised .him a bargain substantially better than a maximum term of 15 years [462]*462imprisonment, and had used unfair tactics in dealing with him. As the trial judge himself observed, there is no evidence indicating that the letter contains any admission by Pizuto that he lied to the State, that, for instance, DeVingo did not commit the murder, or any similar evidence: it would be mere “speculation,” observed the trial judge, to assume the existence of such material in the letter. That there may be more in the letter is obvious, but once again we emphasize that the language of the statute is clear; it is the defendants’ burden to show that the evidence is relevant, material and necessary for the defense, and a request for production of the letter is to be judged solely on the basis of what defendants have shown, by a reasonable probability, to be its relevance.
As noted, in order to satisfy the burden imposed by the new shield law, defendants must demonstrate the non-availability of substantially similar evidence through less intrusive sources. Nevertheless, without any such demonstration, the trial court below concluded that no such alternatives existed. A decision of this sort would pass muster under the statute if all suggested alternate sources had been carefully explored and found wanting, or if they were facially unsatisfactory. Neither conclusion can be supported on the record before us.
First, the tapes which Montemarano made of his private conversations with Pizuto may prove to be a less intrusive source of the information contained in the letter. The trial judge concluded that to require Montemarano to produce these tapes in order to establish that they probably do not contain that information would violate Montemarano’s privilege against self-incrimination. We disagree. Montemarano sought production of the letter and he voluntarily took the stand and testified to the existence of a possibly less intrusive source. Under these circumstances, we are unable to perceive any Fifth Amendment violation in requiring him to produce relevant tapes for the [463]*463purposes of this hearing.13 When the tapes have been produced the trial court will have to determine to what extent they are a less intrusive source. This determination would be preceded by a finding that, under all of the circumstances, it appears likely that the tapes contain substantially similar material to that which, in reasonable probability, is contained in the letter. In addition, the trial judge must determine the extent to which that material can be used before a jury, by excision of portions thereof, without in any way incriminating Montemarano.
Another potential source that requires examination consists of the letters sent by Pizuto and his wife to the judge who sentenced him. Those letters were written at about the same time as the letter to the reporter. Judging from what Pizuto’s attorney said before the sentencing court, they may very well contain substantially similar information.14 The defense has failed to prove that these letters do not contain that information.15
The defense has also failed to prove precisely what Pizuto’s attorney said in the sentencing proceedings. Ms. Goldstein’s affidavit states that the attorney told the court that the State [464]*464had reneged on its deal, implying that the promises made to Pizuto were significantly better than the 15 year imprisonment. Although a transcript of the hearing may not provide a complete “less intrusive source,” certainly that material could provide the basis for supplying some of the information probably contained in the letter. Reference was made by Pizuto’s attorney at that time to tapes and memoranda in Pizuto’s possession. He implied that these contained notes or information about the Attorney General’s tactics and about the real plea bargain. Defendant has proven nothing about what this less intrusive source may or may not contain.
Montemarano himself is a potential less intrusive source, but he was never examined or cross-examined in detail about conversations he had with Pizuto.
Finally, defendant made no attempt whatsoever to prove that Pizuto himself might not have a copy of the letter, or that Pizuto himself might not testify concerning the contents of the letter or the information contained therein. Whether Pizuto would testify, whether he would testify truthfully, all of these are open questions and problems, but the problem is not the reporter’s, it is that of the defendants, for Pizuto is obviously a possible less intrusive source and defendants have made absolutely no effort to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that it is reasonable to believe that he is not such.16
IV.
Our reversal today is without prejudice to any reapplication by defendants for production of this letter. Some of the possible less intrusive sources, especially the Montamarano tapes, [465]*465apparently became known to the defendants only at the hearing itself. It would be manifestly unfair to bar them from such reapplication when in fact they have never really had the chance to offer proofs on that particular source. It is important to note in this regard that it was the trial judge who ruled on his own motion that the tapes probably could not be produced, because of the privilege against self-incrimination.
If defendants apply again, they will have the burden with regard to less intrusive sources that has been set forth above. After the trial judge has heard whatever defendants offer concerning all of these sources, even if he is not satisfied that the aggregate of all information derived from these alternative sources necessarily or even probably duplicates all relevant information contained in Pizuto’s letter, that perception will not be enough to warrant an order of production. It is the defendants who have the burden to prove that the letter probably contains more relevant information than the less intrusive sources. And it is a burden cast upon them by the Legislature which they must meet before an order can be entered requiring that letter be produced for in camera inspection.
We agree with the defendants that they have proven the information contained in the letter is relevant and material. In this regard, we do not believe the Legislature intended to exclude production of materials simply because their only bearing on the case relates to the credibility of a witness. In other situations when credibility is attacked on the basis of bias or interest, courts have spoken of this as something other than a “collateral” issue, but whatever the terminology we feel confident that the Legislature had more in mind than characterizations perhaps suitable for other purposes but not suitable here. Is the material, the information, probably important in the case? If so, the fact that it is directed at a witness’s credibility does not exempt it from production. Here, given Pizuto’s critical importance to the case, any additional information concerning [466]*466his bias, his interest, would satisfy the requirement. That he may have been promised much more than he admitted to might affect his credibility,17 but more than that it may be relevant to everything that he did during the time when such a promise was in existence.
As to whether the information is “necessary to the defense” we do not believe that the Legislature intended this to mean “absolutely essential,” or to require the kind of evidence that would make the difference between creating a reasonable doubt and not being able to.18 Again we think what was intended was that the evidence be of some importance and therefore “necessary.” Obviously whether or not it is “necessary” depends, among other things, on whether or not there are less intrusive sources. Were there none we would conclude that the information probably contained in the letter is “necessary,” meaning it is sufficiently important.
If reapplication for production is made, the trial court should, before determining whether the information is “necessary,” first determine what portion (of the information that is probably in the letter) is not obtainable through less intrusive sources. It may be that he will conclude this remaining undisclosed information (as distinguished from all the information probably in the letter) is not sufficiently important to be characterized as “necessary” even though all of the information in the letter, were there no less intrusive sources, would be.
Finally, we note that on reapplication defendants also bear the burden of showing that the “value of the material sought as it bears upon the issues of guilt or innocence outweighs the privilege against disclosure . . . .” In the particular con[467]*467text of this case, the balance must include a determination of how “necessary” Pizuto’s letter is to defense counsels’ cross-examination of him. Clearly, the judge will be best able to accomplish such balance when he has a better idea of whether alternative sources exist, and if so, whether they supply, in the aggregate, enough information to make production of the letter itself unnecessary. The balance must also include consideration of the continued importance to Ms. Goldstein, and to all reporters, of the free flow of information sought to be achieved through the privilege. At that point defendants must show that the letter is more important then the privilege.
We note in this regard that the notion that in camera production does not dilute a newsperson’s privilege has been rejected by the Legislature. The statute declares as clearly as it possibly could the Legislature’s belief that disclosure to a trial judge in camera represents precisely the same threat to the interests protected by the privilege as disclosure to counsel or to the world. Precisely the same findings are required by the statute when the procedure is to compel disclosure in camera as when it is to compel a turnover by the court to counsel for use at trial. This was not inadvertent. The new shield law bill as originally introduced placed a lesser burden (a prima facie showing) on a defendant for in camera disclosure than for production for use at trial (preponderance of the evidence). The most significant change effected by the Assembly’s amendment was to increase the burden of proof which a defendant seeking in camera disclosure must sustain. The amendment made the burden of proof at both stages of the two-step disclosure procedure — in camera inspection and production for trial — identical.
Since defendants have failed to meet the burden placed on them by this statute, we must reverse the trial court’s order requiring production of the information for in camera inspection. The decision is a difficult one, for along with the trial court, we are concerned that we do not know and can not know whether there is material in the letter that might be helpful to [468]*468defendants and not otherwise available. Our concern is obviously heightened by the seriousness of the charges against these defendants, one of whom is accused of murder. It is understandable that under those circumstances the trial court interpreted the statute to accord with the exigencies of the case: the difficulty of negativing the existence of less intrusive sources given the impossibility of establishing precisely what information is in the letter; the likelihood that there is something relevant in the letter; and, presumably, the court’s conclusion that the credibility of Pizuto will be one of the main issues, if not the main issue, in the case.19 Our removal from the scene of trial may make us less able to evaluate the sum of these factors but, at the same time, perhaps more able to evaluate the importance which we believe the Legislature attached to the free flow of information that results when reporters’ confidential sources and information are protected.
In camera inspection is usually regarded as less of an intrusion upon a privilege of nondisclosure than is production of the information sought for use in open court proceedings. It is natural for any judge, knowing that his inspection will forever remain confidential (unless production for ultimate use at trial is ordered) to be less concerned about that order than the one which follows. For that reason, judges are probably more likely, in the ordinary course of things, to issue orders for in camera production than they are those requiring turnover for use at trial. Appellate review of orders for in camera inspection, therefore, represents some recognition of the relative ease of obtaining such orders as well as the belief of most reporters that [469]*469any required disclosure of confidential sources and information has precisely the same chilling effect on the free flow of information as any other. To a confidential source, to all confidential sources, the promise of silence is absolute, and any breach is a total one. A Legislature which so highly valued the free flow of information understood that and initially made the privilege absolute for the very reason that any disclosure would destroy that flow. To interpret the procedural protections so as to distinguish between the initial disclosure to the judge in camera from subsequent disclosures, potentially to the entire world, would be to disregard that judgment by the Legislature.20
V.
In the event of any reapplication by way of further subpoena on Ms. Goldstein to produce the letter, the trial court, assuming the decision on such reapplication is favorable to the defendants, should under no circumstances require its production for in camera inspection until Pizuto has commenced his direct testimony. Since all contentions concerning the relevance of the letter suggest that it is to be used only for cross-examination of Pizuto, Pizuto’s failure to take the stand, or refusal to testify, will effectively terminate this aspect of the matter — under those circumstances no production of the letter shall be required. We leave it to the discretion of the trial court to determine all other procedural aspects of the matter, particularly the timing of both the hearing and decision on reapplication for production for in camera inspection. Since cross-examination of Pizuto may significantly affect the trial judge’s evalua[470]*470tion of whether the letter is still “necessary,” he may choose to hold off any such hearing or the decision on in camera production, until that cross-examination has been otherwise completed. Cross-examination of Pizuto may itself prove to be a less intrusive source of the information sought; in addition, it may so affect Pizuto’s credibility as to persuade the judge that the letter is no longer “necessary.” On the other hand the trial court may believe that despite the advantages of delaying the reapplication hearing or the decision on in camera production until Pizuto’s cross-examination has been completed, the potential harm occasioned by delay at that stage of the trial outweighs the potential advantage of this further information. Under those circumstances the judge might decide to require any reapplication to be made and heard immediately, with decision (and potential appeal) thereon also to occur immediately. The variations on this theme are numerous and are best left to the sound discretion of the trial court.
Since the statute contemplates complete resolution of matters of this kind before trial and allows applications after trial only under strictly limited conditions, ordinarily the trial court would expedite every aspect of proceedings of this kind that occur after the trial has commenced. The situation before us, however, is unusual — if not unique — in that not only is the material sought needed solely for cross-examination purposes but there is a possibility that cross-examination without it may render production unnecessary. In addition, this is a trial that is already protracted, one which may very well last another month. The trial judge may consider these circumstances in determining the precise timing of further proceedings.
In camera inspection, if ordered, should be by the trial judge only.21 Although counsel will not be permitted to inspect the [471]*471letter, the statute entitles both parties to be heard on the issue of compliance with the statutory requirements and admissibility of the letter at trial. In addition, if upon inspection, the trial judge becomes aware of additional factors that affect relevancy, materiality, etc., they will, of necessity, bear on his ultimate decision. If he decides that the letter is admissible according to the standards set forth in sections 3b and 4 of the statute, he will direct production of the letter, and the letter only, for use at trial. The order directing such production is immediately appealable under the statute as of right. If the trial judge decides that the information should not be disclosed (an order also appealable as of right) the letter will be returned to the news-person’s possession as required by the statute.
For the reasons set forth herein, Ms. Goldstein’s motion for leave to appeal is granted and, pursuant to 17.2:11-2, the trial court’s order requiring production of the letter for in camera inspection is vacated.