Schumer's Shield Would Exclude Some Bloggers

http://www.futureofcapitalism.com/2009/09/schumers-shield-would-exclude-some-bloggers

Senator Schumer, who has a relationship with the press corps that is so ardent that it's said the most dangerous spot in Washington is between Mr. Schumer and a television camera, has crafted an amendment to a proposed shield law that crafts a federal definition of journalists in a way that excludes non-salaried journalists and bloggers, reports the Wall Street Journal. With all due respect to the intrepid Judith Miller, it's a debatable proposition in the first place whether America needs additional federal protection for journalists beyond the ironclad language of the First Amendment. But it would be a classic example of unintended consequences if the effort to protect journalists from having to disclose anonymous sources resulted in, in essence, government licensing of journalists in such a way that the politicians like Senator Schumer get to decide who qualifies for special protected federally shielded journalist status and who doesn't. Just like any other business group that goes to Washington looking for special privileges, the journalists end up granting more power to the politicians who bestow the privileges.

by Editor  |  Sep 24, 2009 at 11:50 am Related Topics:  Press receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free futureofcapitalism.com mailing list