In this article, the author argues that the debate regarding the definition of the parameters of who a journalist is needs to be assessed and settled in two distinct domains: the law domain and the professional ethics domain. Using case law, the author delves into the finer nuances of the debate by looking at Constitutional law, statutory law and the distribution of informal privileges by government officials under the legal domain, and by distinguishing between public communicators, second-level journalists and top-level journalists under the professional ethics domain.

This article argues for the extension of journalistic privileges to bloggers, wherever applicable. While making a case for the recognition of bloggers as journalists by assessing the role of bloggers in dissemination of information to the public, the author deals with the larger question of the role of the press and the function of a journalist. The author hinges his argument on the ability of blogs in easy and free dissemination of information, their potential to lower barriers of entry to the marketplace and their role in deconsolidating media ownership, while uncovering the inadequacies of the Fourth Estate model of free press.

In this article, the author argues that the increased role of social media in journalism has led to adverse effects on journalistic norms of accuracy, objectivity and accountability, among others. On the legal front, the author makes a case for increased press liability for defamation and violation of privacy rights, while attempting to engage with the negative consequences of recent congressional and administrative attempts to regulate online advertising and collect consumer information. The author takes social media and its influence as a given while formulating suggestions to combat the potential costs she identifies.

Through an analysis of three cases which deal with the question of who a journalist is, the author argues that the third of the trio of cases which lays down the Madden test is problematic since it uses one indefinable construct – news – to define another indefinable construct – journalist. While the author celebrates the possibility of the inclusion of non traditional forms of journalism in the definition of journalist under the Madden test, the author also criticises it for being far too flexible, giving Courts enough leeway to define journalists based on vague and fickle notions of news.

In this note, the author examines hot news misappropriation as a tool to fight online news content piracy in light of two cases – the AHN case and the fly on the wall case. After a comparison between hot news misappropriation and modern copyright law, the author concludes that misappropriation can be used as a flexible enforcement mechanism against free riders who seek to violate industry norms of fair competition, only if a new understanding of these norms can be reached.

Arguing against the Alfano Decree, the author notes that the implementation of the decree would jeopardise the status of Italy as a democratic nation, arguably establishing a dictatorship, and in effect violating Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Taking the role and the rise of bloggers as his starting point, the author delves into an analysis of the case law dealing with the right to freedom of expression under the Convention. The author, after a detailed analysis of what constitutes a legitimate interference with the right to free expression under the ECHR, deems the Decree violative of the ECHR, and the penalties imposed under it too harsh.

In this article, the author argues that protection must be given to all acts of journalism, especially pointing towards non traditional forms. The author delves into the central question of what constitutes an act of journalism, and whether such definition is rooted in the ‘journalist’s’ ethics, behaviour or intent.

In this comment, the author traces the history and growth of blogging and provides an analysis of the Supreme Court’s libel jurisprudence in order to argue that non-media internet speakers, especially bloggers, should get the same protection under the First Amendment as the institutional media, in defamation suits. The author argues that blogs propagate the free speech doctrine, and in a way, epitomise the ‘free marketplace of ideas’ concept, and therefore, merit the same level of protection as traditional forms of media.

This paper explores the impact of the emergence of new forms of media in China. The author provides an analysis of the impact of new media vis-à-vis the press control policies active in China, using four major news events from 2003-2008. The author argues that with the emergence of new media in China, freedom of press is no longer a distant dream.

This Comment examines the case of Too Much Media, LLC v. Hale, in which the Supreme Court of New Jersey explored the question of whether or not a blogger can enjoy the same privileges under the shield law, as a traditional journalist. The Court was one of the first few to apply journalists’ privilege in cyberspace. The author, however, argues that the Court’s opinion that such protection could not be granted to a woman who posted her reporting on a message board on the Internet, leaves much to be desired – in terms of the purpose and importance of shield law, as well as the values that underlie the First Amendment.

In this comment, the author argues that non-traditional journalists should receive the same kind of protection received by traditional journalists. By analysing the rationale behind the privilege and the role played by citizen journalists in dissemination of vital information, the author concludes that a broad federal shield law, in the same vein as that applicable in California and New Jersey, is the need of the hour.

This Article explores the First Amendment right vis-à-vis the right to online informational privacy. The author examines a number of cases dealing with ‘shock value’ of the First Amendment, right up till the ruling in Ostergren v. Cuccinelli. The article also studies the watchdog function of the press, and how it has come to be performed by citizen journalists on the internet. Finally, the author argues that the Court, in Ostergren, failed to differentiate between two strands within shock value cases – “speech that shocks because it violates norms of civil discourse-causing anger and emotional outrage and speech that shocks because it intrudes on financial security.”

This article explores the convergence and divergence of blogging and traditional journalism as two distinct forms of journalism. It also explores the function of journalism in light of the emergence of new media and the increasing influence of bloggers. The author also examines the challenges new media journalism poses to mainstream media, in light of the proliferation of news providers on the internet.

The author, in her exploration of virtual whistleblowing, examines the concept of virtual whistleblowers, the need for providing protection to them, and why special kinds of protections are needed for those who use blogs to blow the whistle – both in cases of virtual and non-virtual workers. The author uses the example WikiLeaks to deal with concerns such as national security vis-à-vis legal protection of whistleblowers. The author argues that keeping in mind the graduation of media from traditional forms to non traditional forms, extending journalists’ privileges, such as those under the shield law, to bloggers, is needed in order to secure whistleblowers.

Recognising the absence of participation by rural communities in mainstream media, this article examines an effort to promote a more inclusive dialogue by means of a simple technology: an interactive voice forum. CGNetSwara is a system that allows callers to record messages of local interest, as well as listen to messages recorded by others. The article is a product of interviews conducted with 42 stakeholders which includes callers, bureaucrats, and members of the media. The article examines how this platform could lead to social inclusion for those who are underprivileged.

While arguing against the conventional usage ‘citizen journalism’, Bruns advocates for the term Pro-Am where those engaged in journalism professionally and those engaged as amatures may explore the opportunities that emerge from cooperation on common ground. After citing instances of such cooperation Bruns traces reasons for the emergence of such models such as the financial advantage of content generated by armatures as well as the growing demand amongst consumers for the ability to meaningfully engage with news reports.

MyHeimat.de is a German-based citizen journalism website which provides a nationwide platform for participants to contribute reports about events in their community. Drawing on extensive interviews with myHeimat CEO Martin Huber and Madsack newspaper editors Peter Taubald and Clemens Wlokas, Bruns analyses the myHeimat project and examines its applicability beyond rural areas in Germany; and investigates the greater role citizen journalism may play beyond political reports and commentary. Bruns further comments appreciatively on the unique model of myHeimat whereby professional and amature journalists collaborate to create content.

Through this paper the Authors analyse their findings from interviews with editors of newspapers in Texas on the practical and philosophical arguments in favour of and against citizen journalism. The paper fits this debate within the larger debate over the place and purpose of user- generated content in the news production process. The viability of gatekeeping in light of participatory media and increasing digitization too is examined.

After examining the changing nature of journalism into a participative act rather than the unilateral production of professionals, the Author delves into the historical purpose of reporter’s privilege and its scope determining to whom it attaches. The Author further analysis the merits of alternative approaches to reporter’s privilege such as excluding citizen journalists, limit privilege to publications on matters of public concern as well as various ‘functional’ approaches whilst advocating a new functional approach to privilege.

Luke Goode examines the democratic implications of citizen journalism and social news. He calls for a broad conception of ‘citizen journalism’, which is not restricted to online reporting and ‘alternative’ sources of news. The article further calls for investigation into new forms of gatekeeping and agenda setting within social news networks. Further the Author, using the example of three websites, highlights the importance analyzing the software ‘code’ structuring these new modes of news production to identify and understand the potential patterns and gatekeeping processes that can emerge via the software code underpinning these sites.

The premise of this report is that those that were formally considered to be merely the audience are today participating in the reporting processes with the advent of technology, creating legal issues such as conventional media law and intellectual property concepts are yet to be adapted and applied in this realm. Acknowledging that many of the legal issues cited are at this point theoretical, the Author identifies possible issue areas such as reader comments, reader blogs, user generated videos, crowdsourcing, reverse publishing, hyperlocal reader- generated news, defamation and liability for unlawfully acquired information amongst others.

Bruns analyses the effect of citizen journalism in undermining the traditional position of influence and importance held by mainstream mediahouses. This article argues that as a result of the advent of citizen journalism and the growing demand for user generated content, an alternative to gatekeeping has emerged which does not operate from a position of authority but only “harnesses the collective intelligence and knowledge of dedicated communities to filter the newsflow and to highlight and debate salient topics of importance to the community”.