Rep. Pena Files ‘Sheild Law’
By Vince Leibowitz on Dec 13, 2006 in Uncategorized
I feel very remiss for not having mentioned this yesterday (especially since I got the press release), but I got busy covering the special in CD 23.
Anyway, State Rep. Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg) has filed HB 382 which is a “sheild law” for journalists. I plan to blog more on this later, but I’d like to point out to my fellow bloggers that, based on my reading of this bill, “citizen journalists” and bloggers engaged in news reporting activities would be covered.
I come to this conclusion based on the definitions of “journalist” and “news medium” as outlined in he bill.
We came to the conclusion that, based on the language, bloggers who make money would be covered. Somebody like me would not.
Shaine,
I disagree. You are covered, I believe, under at minimum the definition of “news medium.” I’d argue you’d be covered regardless.
Furthermore, just as bloggers are considered subject to libel and slander under the Civil Practices & Remedies Code, I don’t see how a court could exclude us from this without reversal by SCOTUS.