Chuck Schumer’s shield law is meant to protect journalists from being dragged into court or intimidated by the legal system into giving up their
confidential sources (among other things). In reality, this is nothing more than the closing chapter of a ‘drama’ by which Democrats create statute that allows the government to define who gets those positive rights. It is about the State deciding who and what a ‘Journalist’ is, and inevitably, what journalism is.
Having the power to define who or what is ‘The Press’ gives the state a power to control the press in violation of the first amendment prohibition against such manipulation.
As is so often the case with Democrats, the “Shield Law” is about controlling political speech, not protecting it. Favored press will be benefactors, a protected class of journalists. Those out of favor will be something else.
Jeanne Shaheen, I am quite certain, supports State defined journalism.
