Again the problem of definition and you is the definer:Bloggers Not Journalists, Federal Judge Rules | from the occupation-foole dept. | posted by timothy on Thursday December 08, @11:40 (The Courts) | with 313 comments | https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/12/08/1558233/bloggers-not-journalists-federal-judge-rules?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New submitter squideatingdough writes "On InfoWorld, Robert X. Cringely covers a recent case of a blogger accused of libel and defamation. The federal judge ruled that [0]journalists warrant more protection from libel suits than bloggers, but it is obvious from the article that bloggers' rights can vary by state, depending on the 'shield laws' in force." Reader [1]blindseer adds a link to this [2]AP article on the case, and asks "If the government can define who is part of the press, and therefore gets First Amendment protections, then where does that place the freedom of the press?" The slippery slope is a steep one; even some relatively open societies require [3]licensure for journalists ([4]visiting ones included) with [5]predictable results. (And the Labour Party would like to see a [6]similar system in the UK.) Discuss this story at: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/12/08/1558233/bloggers-not-journalists-federal-judge-rules?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email#commentlisting Links: 0. http://www.infoworld.com/t/cringely/bloggers-youre-second-class-citizens-now-181148 1. mailto:blindseer@earthlink.net 2. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BLOGGER_DEFAMATION_SUIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-12-07-20-39-18 3. http://www.ejc.net/magazine/article/italian_freelance_journalists_protest_against_precarious_working_conditions/ 4. http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Sala_Stampa/AreaGiornalisti/Guida_per_stampa_estera.htm 5. http://www.economist.com/node/14560942 6. http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-09/27/labour-party-journalism-licenses