He also said he supported a so-called media shield law to help balance the protection of press freedom against national security needs.

BBC: Obama tries to tame political tempests

Maybe working together -- Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals -- the Media Shield Law, a solution to the problem, can be passed.

CNN: We're pointing a gun at our democracy

So the whole goal of this media shield law -- that was worked on and largely endorsed by folks like The Washington Post Editorial Page and by prosecutors -- was finding a way to strike that balance appropriately.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Holds a Press Conference with Prime Minister Erdogan | The White House