The (Springfield, Mass.) Republican
Editorial
Feb. 12, 2007
Excerpt:
In this age of the Internet, it is sometimes difficult to
tell the real journalists from the pretend journalists. [Jailed freelancer Josh] Wolf
may not have the credentials of a mainstream journalist, but
he did sell video of the clash to San Francisco television
stations. That makes him a journalist in this case.
While Wolf’s case isn’t drawing much attention
outside California, his incarceration highlights the need
for a federal shield law to protect journalists.
For the record, this newspaper is working with others in
support of legislation sponsored by the Massachusetts
Newspaper Publishers Association to establish a state shield
law to protect reporters. These are protections for the
public, not the press.
We feel just as strongly about the need for a federal
shield law. The press should be free from government
obstruction and interference. A free flow of information is
essential to a healthy democracy.
In Wolf’s case, prosecutors demanded that he give them
video of a public demonstration as well as testify about
protesters on the video. Wolf testified under oath that the
video contained none of the alleged crimes committed by
protesters, and he offered to let the judge review the
video. The judge declined.
Wolf can claim to be many things. A freelance journalist. A
blogger. An independent videographer. But by no one’s
definition should he be called an investigator for the
government.
