This Stinks!! Speech By Commentators in the Blogsphere Not to Be Protected

The Outrage of the Day

Bloggers would "probably not" be considered journalists under the proposed federal shield law, the bill's co-sponsor, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R.-Ind.), told the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) Monday afternoon....

Lugar acknowledged that the legislation could amount to a "privilege" for reporters over other Americans.

"I think, very frankly, you can make a case that this is a special boon for reporters, and certainly for their role in freedom of the press," he said. "At the end of the day what we will come out with says there is something privileged about being a reporter, and being able to report on something without being thrown into jail."

The Free Flow of Information Act of 2005

The Free Flow of Information Act of 2005 covers "any entity that disseminates information by print, broadcast, cable, satellite, mechanical, photographic, electronic, or other means and that publishes a newspaper, book, magazine, or other periodical in print or electronic form; operates a radio or television station (or network of such stations), cable system, or satellite carrier, or channel or programming service or any such station, network, system or carrier; or operates a news agency or wire service. The legislation also covers employees, contractors or other persons who "gathers, edits, photographs, records, prepares, or disseminates news or information for any such entity.

Although we are freelance, does this mean that we are not doing the same work as the organized commercial agencies?

I learned about the coming impingement of our free speech rights while reading about a group formerly known as Pajama Media, now known as Open Source Media when accessing a favorite, Little Green Footballs. As time elapsed, more and more of my source bloggers joined up. Following links, source" will no longer stand I have discovered that the menace is coming not only from the U.N. and from overseas, but from the United States Congress!!!

Interested parties can contact Senator Lugar and your own Representatives.

Hattip: Belmont Club, TigerHawk and Technorati