I personally thought the second chapter of We’re All Journalists Now was not nearly as good of a read as the first chapter. While the first chapter used current examples of what is being done by citizen journalist, the second chapter was like reading out of a mass comm. law book. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but is not the type of thing I like to find in a non-textbook.
In the second chapter Scott Gant gives you a rundown of the history of press and the first amendment. He talked about Justice Stewart’s opinion after the Branzburg case and how it was wrong. I would have to agree with Gant on how there is no way you can consider a shield for only organized media. It would leave the citizen journalist with no protection. The major problem I had with this chapter is how Gant seems to put all hope of a shield on the Supreme Court. It is obvious to me how the Supreme Court does not want to take on the responsibility of creating a common law in regards to the Press Clause. Gant only mentions Congress and I think it would be their job to make the law and then the Court can decide if it is constitutional or not. It should not be solely the Supreme Courts responsibility. They should be able to tweak the law to make it better.
