Watch Now: Live Webcast, Senate Judiciary Committee Addresses Federal Shield Law

 

WASHINGTON, DC (December 3, 2009) – The United States Senate Committee on Judiciary is meeting now and will be discussing Bill S. 448, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2009, sponsored by Senators Arlen Specter, Charles E. Schumer, Lindsey Graham, Amy Klobuchar, and Ted Kaufman.

In late breaking news an amendment to the bill is expected to be offered by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Richard J. Durbin that alters the definition of “covered person” by reverting back to the “salaried employee” language and includes new language excluding people who publish anonymously or pseudonymously.

Upon learning of the amendment, the National Press Photographers Association's general counsel, Mickey H. Osterreicher, made the following statement to the Shield Law Coalition, of which the NPPA is a member:

"Many members of the National Press Photographers Association have lost staff positions because of the economy. With the demise of so many publications not to mention the downsizing in network and local broadcasting this amendment adds insult to injury. Veteran photojournalists must either freelance or find a new profession while student NPPA members struggle to find entry level jobs. To say that these people are not entitled to the same qualified privilege because that are not "salaried" is truly an affront to their journalistic integrity. Additionally, online publication may be the only viable outlet for their work. NPPA joins in opposing this last minute amendment that truly undermines the protections that we have fought for so long to obtain."

Osterreicher followed up this morning, prior to the start of the committee meeting, with calls to several members of the Committee on the Judiciary to convey the NPPA's position.

To watch the meeting live go to: http://judiciary.senate.gov/webcast/livewebcast.cfm

For previous coverage of this issue see this article.

 

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