The shield
I am on the far right of the political spectrum. I disagreed with reporter shield laws before I took a job in media, and after working with reporters I more strongly disagree with the laws. Reporters are mere mortals, and mainstream media is a business. I believe that neither deserve any special protections.
With that in mind, I find the recent fight between The Phoenix New Times and County very troubling. That the Government would expect to be able receive lists people that had observed free speech appears to me to be a few steps off from what could be expected from a Police state. I think it is a very dangerous precedent for the government to be interested in the viewership of any sort of speech, with the exception of those that advocate unlawful activity. It is my belief that Government tracking of those that dissent is incredibly dangerous.
Oh well…