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News-oriented bloggers have contributed much to the public sphere in recent years. Whether or not bloggers are considered journalists and thereby are protected by shield laws will be an important question for policy makers and the courts. This paper provides an overview of the law concerning the constitutional and statutory privileges accorded journalists. It then critiques proposals to create a federal journalist's privilege as applied to bloggers. Finally, the paper argues that the test articulated in Von Bulow v. Von Bulow should be adopted in federal legislation. Under Von Bulow, bloggers would be shielded from disclosing confidential sources and information when they function as journalists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the factors influencing the design of Democracy Network (DNet), by the Center for Governmental Studies in California. Features of the DNet design; Motivation of technical choices in DNet design; Implications of technical decisions on the society; Models shaping technical decisions; Influence of interactive television technology on DNet design.