Who Is A Reporter?

For John, BLUF:  We need a broader definition of who is a journalist, not a narrower.

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Ms Kate Irby, reporting for the McClatchy Washington Bureau, gives us "Senators spar over definition of ‘journalist’ in seeking to protect them".  This is about writing a reporter shield law.  This is about providing legal protection for journalists and their sources.

Part of the issue is the degree to which bloggers and other members of the Pajamas Media will be included as journalists, at least for the purposes of this proposed law, currently before the Senate Judiciary Committee.  In this discussion Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is the good guy, in my estimation, and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is the bad guy.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., suggested that the definition comprise only journalists who make salaries, saying it should be applied just to "real reporters."  The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., was against that idea, since there are bloggers and others in the Internet age who don’t necessarily receive salaries.

"The world has changed.  We’re very careful in this bill to distinguish journalists from those who shouldn’t be protected, WikiLeaks and all those, and we’ve ensured that," Schumer said.  "But there are people who write and do real journalism, in different ways than we’re used to. They should not be excluded from this bill."

I often don't agree with Senator Schumer, but in this case he is doing the Lord's work.  Senator Feinstein represents the thinking that priviledges the formal system while stifling the new, innovative, informal, system.

Regards  —  Cliff