Journalists' Rights Tracker

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.