"The case of journalist James Risen is the one that could end the free press as we know it and it could result in a law that will shut down bloggers and citizen journalists," writes Sara Noble.
"James Risen is a foreign policy reporter who is... in a fierce battle with the U.S. government over his refusal to give up the identity of an anonymous CIA source and to testify at the trial on former CIA officer, Jeffrey Sterling who is accused of leaking information to him. Risen says that Obama is “the greatest enemy of press freedom that we have encountered in at least a generation.”
Because of the Risen case, the government is considering a Shield law that could affect all bloggers by defining the term “journalist” and it will have the effect of protecting only those who fall under that definition. They could be easily sued or worse.
Some believe that the federal Shield law being considered would undermine the government’s ability to investigate leaks. Others say it has too many carve outs for the government. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin wanted to define who is a journalist and under what conditions the term applies.
They want to narrow the definition of a journalist. They say it is because they want to protect those who write for free, but in effect, they would be offering protections only for those who fit their narrow definition, putting bloggers and citizen journalists at risk by not falling under the definition of a “journalist.” It could shut down blogs and everyone’s right to speak freely.
Of course, if James Risen is not protected under the First Amendment, bloggers will also not be protected. [Source]
"James Risen is a foreign policy reporter who is... in a fierce battle with the U.S. government over his refusal to give up the identity of an anonymous CIA source and to testify at the trial on former CIA officer, Jeffrey Sterling who is accused of leaking information to him. Risen says that Obama is “the greatest enemy of press freedom that we have encountered in at least a generation.”
Because of the Risen case, the government is considering a Shield law that could affect all bloggers by defining the term “journalist” and it will have the effect of protecting only those who fall under that definition. They could be easily sued or worse.
Some believe that the federal Shield law being considered would undermine the government’s ability to investigate leaks. Others say it has too many carve outs for the government. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin wanted to define who is a journalist and under what conditions the term applies.
They want to narrow the definition of a journalist. They say it is because they want to protect those who write for free, but in effect, they would be offering protections only for those who fit their narrow definition, putting bloggers and citizen journalists at risk by not falling under the definition of a “journalist.” It could shut down blogs and everyone’s right to speak freely.
Of course, if James Risen is not protected under the First Amendment, bloggers will also not be protected. [Source]