yes, no, maybe so / promise never to repeat (Score 2, Insightful)

I'd say some bloggers definitely qualify as journalists...those that do extensive research and aren't just editorializing.

Most blogs however are poorly written, poorly researched and just platforms for people to voice their opinions - definitely not journalism by any stretch of the imagination.

In regards to the Apple/thinksecret case - the blogger wasn't acting as a journalist...you can't violate an NDA and then try to hide behind the shield of being a journalist. He signed the NDA first, then released the information to the public...he may not have been editorializing, but he was violating a contract w/Apple that had to be respected first, even if that infringed on his 1st amendment rights and his desire to be a journalist.

Yeah, it sucks he got nailed - but you can't blame Apple for defending it's NDAs and the gross violation of their trust with the particular employee responsible. You can bet that any company in a similar situation would do exactly the same thing, otherwise the NDAs have no weight and are pointless. Given the current environment with patents and the laws surrounding them, it's important that if someone actually innovates, they be given an opportunity to actually make something of those innovations. In truth, this didn't hurt Apple that much, but they at least need to set the record straight in regards to what they'll tolerate and what they will prosecute - the next time someone pulls something like this, it could be much more costly to them.

As an aside, is Taco trying to figure out what to put on his Resume(journalist??)?? I keed!