And who decides the qualification of “real” reporter?
Actually, that’s pretty much defined in McCain-Feingold.And although Feingold doesn’t say it in so many words, the reality is that “real reporters” work for the Associated Press, or for members of the Associated Press.
Wire service journalism, defined as journalism of the wire services and the member newspapers of the wire services, match perfectly with Adam Smith’s famous (and liberal favorite) quote:People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices. It is impossible indeed to prevent such meetings, by any law which either could be executed, or would be consistent with liberty and justice. But though the law cannot hinder people of the same trade from sometimes assembling together, it ought to do nothing to facilitate such assemblies; much less to render them necessary. - Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations (Book I, Ch 10)The AP in particular and wire service journalism in general constitute continual virtual meetings of all the “real reporters” - and the conversation doesn’t “end” with a conspiracy against the public - the conspiracy is continuous.