Much is at stake in journalist-shield bill

A "shield law" is before the Congress that protects journalists from being prosecuted if they don't reveal their anonymous sources. Proponents of the law include Republicans and Democrats, as well as the attorneys general of most states (most states already have a shield law). Mukasey and other Bush Adminstration figures claim it will be harder to combat terrorism if they can't compel journalists to reveal their confidential, anonymous sources.  Other critics include those who object to language in the proposed bill defining who is a journalist. This law will likely cover some bloggers (not all); some are questioning why this law should define who is a journalist and deserving protection, when the Constution doesn't define who and who isn't the press, just that there is Freedom of the Press. Anonymous sources do have their problems, but the worst cases of abuse involve those in power using journalists to disseminate lies, not honest whistleblowers exposing corruption and wanting anonymity to avoid retaliation.
Journalists, their lying sources, and the anthrax investigation by Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com
Judy Miller's War by Alexander Cockburn - Counterpunch.com