The Digital Journalist examines who should be entitled to Shield Law protections: “[W]e will continue to argue that a distinction must be made between a professional journalist and every blogger, podcaster and anyone else with access to an audience. All are citizens and have a claim to free speech under the law. However, not everyone can claim a reporter’s privilege. If they could then no one would be obligated to give evidence in a wide range of situations. When everyone counts as a journalist, no one really counts – because the granting of privilege would become impractical.” Wolf responds here.
For more background on the Wolf case, read Demian Bulwa’s excellent story in the Chron. Bulwa reports that the video Wolf refuses to release “features interviews with about 10 protesters who shed masks to speak into Wolf’s camera lens.” His attorney says, “They expected he would safeguard them, which is what he is doing.” Hmmmm. What kind of anarchists sit down for an interview with a “journalist” without concealing their identities, and then expect that journalist not to air those interviews in order to protect their identities?
