When Is A Blogger Not A Journalist?

As more and more bloggers enter the realm of investigative journalism, some have begun to face similar quandaries to those faced by “real” journalists, and the issue of First Amendment protection for the self-styled reporter crowd has started to be seriously debated. “A useful first step would be to learn whether bloggers are covered by existing state statutes that protect journalists from having to cough up sources. The vast majority of states mark a clear line between professional journalists and everybody else. How do reporters qualify? They must be employed by news organizations — or as bloggers refer to it, the dreaded MSM (mainstream media).”