The word journalist is being defined in proposed federal legislation to
expand the shield law that protects journalists from prosecution for refusing
to reveal their sources in criminal investigations. The proposed definition is narrow and clearly
only includes paid professionals, not those, such as us bloggers, who do the
exact same work, either employed by themselves or for free.
Aside from the question on the
merits of a journalist shield law, this proposed definition of journalist is an attempt by a de facto
guild of paid employees of the media to re-establish their industry’s monopoly
on information and commentary. As such,
it is a threat to liberty and must be opposed by conservatives and all those
concerned about the freedom of the press – a right that belongs to all. Furthermore, it is not the duty of government to define any profession or any legitimate practice of exercising a freedom.
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