You can understand why this passage jumped out in a New York Times story that says a federal court has extended protection of the First Amendment to Internet journalists — the same right enjoyed by people whose words are printed on paper (unless they live in Huckansas).

In its ruling, the appeals court said online and offline journalists are equally protected under the First Amendment. “We can think of no workable test or principle that would distinguish ‘legitimate’ from ‘illegitimate’ news,” the opinion states. “Any attempt by courts to draw such a distinction would imperil a fundamental purpose of the First Amendment.”

 

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