Blunt co-sponsoring federal shield law

Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt is among the co-sponsors who have signed on to a bill which would allow journalists to protect their sources.
The bill would prevent federal prosecutors and courts from forcing media outlets and journalists from testifying or producing documents unless there is a compelling need for the information and all other avenues of obtaining it have been exhausted and it would bar courts from making reporters reveal sources or any information that would lead to a source's identity.
The fiasco that has surrounded the outing of a CIA agent and has resulted in contempt of court citations and possible jail sentences for reporters from the New York Times and Time would never be repeated under this legislation.
While journalists are citizens just like everyone else, shield laws, which have already been established in most U. S. states, are absolutely necessary to the functioning of democracy. If journalists cannot protect their sources, then people will not come forward and reveal when wrongdoing is occurring in government or business.
If the recent publicity surrounding the revelation of Deep Throat's identity doesn't make that point clear, nothing will.
The next interesting point will be the courts decide just who should be categorized as a journalist. Should it just be reporters from newspapers, television stations, and newsmagazines, or should that protection be extended to people who are writing non-fiction books or to bloggers.
What is the definition of a journalist? Is it someone who is paid by a media outlet for producing news? Do we want government and the courts to determine who is and who is not a journalist?
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.