I haven’t seen this particular bill, but the journalist shield laws I have heard proposed would allow “journalists” not to have to respond to a valid subpoena issued in the course of court proceedings in certain circumstances, whereas the average Joe Citizen would have to comply.
These laws are a terrible idea and are not consistent with our constitutional system. “Journalists” however defined should not be given “first class citizen” rights in a court of law whereas the rest of us have “second class citizen” rights. And who is to say who is a “journalist” entitled to such special rights? If I learn something newsworthy from a government leaker, and post it on FR, am I protected from a court-issued subpoena under this legislation? I doubt it. But a “journalist” would be.
Prosecutors and courts already have developed doctrines and policies in place pursuant to which they avoid seeking information from news organizations if they can first get the information from another source. That is enough, they don’t need more special rights.
“If I learn something newsworthy from a government leaker, and post it on FR, am I protected from a court-issued subpoena under this legislation? I doubt it. But a “journalist” would be.”
And who decides the definition of a “journalist”. That’s the scary part.