Internet news pioneer Matt Drudge on Friday issued a scathing criticism of a Senate bill that will provide a narrow definition of the term journalist.
Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein insisted on liming protections for a new "media shield" law to "real reporters" and not that of a hypothetical 17-year old with his or her own website.
"I can't support it if everyone who has a blog has a special privilege … or if Edward Snowden were to sit down and write this stuff, he would have a privilege. I'm not going to go there," she reportedly said.
Drudge, publisher of the popular Drudge Report, turned to his personal twitter account to vocally express his opposition to the bill.
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/DRUDGE/status/378449307679985664"]
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/DRUDGE/status/378453497366069248"]
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/DRUDGE/status/378460000282091520"]
The "media shield" legislation that cleared a Senate panel on Friday reportedly defines a "covered journalist" as someone who reports for "an entity or service that disseminates news and information." It reportedly covers freelancers, part-timers, and student journalists.
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