Posted on 09/13/2013 5:03:44 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey
An amendment is moving through the Senate Judiciary Committee that would essentially allow the government to determine who is a journalist for purposes of legal protection of sources. For purposes of protecting a source, a “journalist” under law would be anyone who: Works or worked for “an entity or service that disseminates news or information by means of newspaper; nonfiction book; wire service; news agency; news website, mobile application or other news or information service…news program; magazine or other periodical…or through television or radio broadcast…” These people would have to have the “primary intent to investigate events and procure material in order to disseminate to the public news or information.” Opinion journalists might not be covered.
Bloggers and citizen journalists – citizens who commit acts of journalists without working for such an outlet – would not be covered, unless it was determined that “at the inception of the process of gathering the news or information sought, had the primary intent to investigate issues or events and procure material in order to disseminate to the public news or information.” In other words, the government – the Department of Justice – would now determine whether primary intent was news distribution or political concerns.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
It strikes me that we are on dangerous territory if we are drawing distinctions that are treating some engaged in the process of reporting and journalism better than others. If we are advantaging those who happen to receive a paycheck from a corporate media entity over those who happen to be citizens….I for one would have deep troubles with legislation from Congress saying ‘we will grant special privileges if you happen to work for a corporate media interest’….It seems to me the First Amendment protects the activity, not the employment status of the person engaging in it.Once again, Cruz is on our side in We The People v. Washington D.C. Elitists. Do they even have a clue that the Angry Mob is gathering ahead of 2014.
And WE, TOO, are part of the new and highly effective electronic Samizdat.
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Indeed, we are.
The point of this legislation is to go after the sources who leak classified or sensitive information to other than “corporate media.”
IIRC, Fast & Furious was leaked to Legal Insurrection and another non-corporate news site. (Correct me if I’m wrong, MM.) This bill is intended to prevent non-standard news distribution sites from being able to protect their sources.
The unintended consequences, however, of legally distinguishing traditional corporate media from citizen journalists could be disastrous and used by this administration to target their political opponents as happened with the IRS targeting of Tea Party organizations.
They have no clue. Even after the Two Million Biker Ride.
Run, Ted, Run!!
5.56mm
2013: The “Watchdogs” are being hired by the government.
Richard Stengel, the top editor of Time magazine for the past seven years, is planning to step down as managing editor for a new job at the U.S. Department of State, sources familiar with the situation tell POLITICO and Capital New York.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/richard-stengel-leaving-time-state-department-96732.html
Was Mr Stengel amongst the 21 now working for Obama or is he “catch”.....22? - [ sorry, I could NOT resist]
It used to be bankers and “industrialists” that see sawed between private enterprise and the government, now its urinalists.
“God help us and God save the republic.”!
if it smells like tyranny and walks like tyranny its tyranny, alright
In the immortal words of Boss Tweed: “Stop them !?*# pitchers!”
I’m assuming this have to pass the whole Congress.
We don’t have time to wait for congress to get their act together”..Barack Hussein Obama...
who knows how this will play out.
at what turn in the road to hard tyranny does a lawless “leader” stop?
Undocumented Journalism.....before it became known as such.
please show me your posting lizence papuhs!!
Quite frankly we need more muckrakers....not less.
ahaha THAT would be a bit obvious and we cant have that.
the drones..the zombies.. will see this “legislation” as necessary control..with nary a thought
Fly the flag upside down. Our Republic is dying.
Thank You Fellow Un-Documented Journalist!
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