“So an ordinary citizen who posts regularly on blog sites or even sends frequent letters to the editor of the local newspaper is apparently considered “the press” for all intents and purposes under state law.”
This is true and I’ve testified in a Hudson County voter fraud case where those rights were applicable under the NJ Shield Law.
I applied that right dozens of times and the Court refused not to undermine it. That would require a separate hearing stopping the proceedings and the outcome would not have been in doubt.
In NJ, the State Constitution holds higher protections than the First Amendment. Political speech is considered at the highest rung.
Great story. I believe the New Jersey standard is that a person is covered by the NJ Shield Law as a “journalist” as long as they are engaged in an activity that is aimed at disseminating information to the public in some manner (newspaper, TV, radio, web blog, standing on a street corner with a bullhorn, etc.). Is this true?