Federal Shield Bill: A New Hope for Old Media

[Commentary] A federal media shield bill is moving to the Senate floor and neither political party is happy.

Conservative hawks are calling it another White House distraction from a failed foreign policy. Free speech advocates decry the government licensing of journalists. Many bloggers and web personalities are afraid the government's definition of "covered journalists" will have a chilling effect on efforts that many started only as an honorable response to scandals like the NSA leaks and IRS political targeting. If the bill does pass, the conflict between free speech and security won't end. It will, however, be a defining win for traditional news media in its fight with digital media organizations. But citizen journalism isn't a heroic calling. It's a contradiction in terms. Citizens have the right and responsibility to broadcast claims of criminality, but there is no substitute for professionals with defined standards. This bill sets the line between those who gather and share news (citizens), and those who gather and report (journalists). If anything, this bill effectively establishes "Reporting" as a proper noun. As a federal shield bill inches to the finish line, it's important for journalists to avoid overconfidence from a defining win. Instead, they must continue to look at ways to incorporate the best of both worlds. In the $60 billion news industry, no one wants to stifle free speech. That's why this bill has special exclusions for students and freelancers, as well as a process for judiciary-approved exemptions. It's just another necessary evil, like most everything going in or going out of Washington nowadays.

[Chase is Partner, Capitol Media Partners]