New York Senate Bill S09953

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/17/26
• Refer: 4/17/26

Caption

Expands the exemption provided to professional journalists and newscasters from contempt to include employment or association with a web log; defines web log as a website or webpage that contains an online journal containing news, comments and offers hyperlinks provided by the writer.

Summary

This bill amends New York’s civil rights law, specifically the state’s shield law for journalists, to expand who qualifies as a “professional journalist” and what media are covered by the contempt exemption. It adds “web log” to the list of covered outlets and defines a web log as a website or webpage containing an online journal with news, comments, and hyperlinks provided by the writer. The bill also updates the contempt protection language so that journalists and newscasters associated with web logs are protected from being compelled to disclose confidential news or sources in civil, criminal, legislative, or grand jury proceedings. In practical terms, the bill extends existing source-protection and anti-contempt safeguards to online journalists and bloggers who meet the statutory definition and are professionally engaged in news gathering for gain or livelihood. It does not create a new privilege from scratch; rather, it broadens the scope of the current shield law to reflect digital publishing and online news dissemination. The protections apply whether the journalist is a regular employee or otherwise professionally affiliated with the media outlet.

Impact

The bill would amend Civil Rights Law section 79-h by revising the definition of “professional journalist,” adding a new definition of “web log,” and inserting web logs into the contempt exemption provisions. As a result, courts, legislatures, and grand juries would be barred from holding qualifying web-log journalists or newscasters in contempt for refusing to reveal confidential news or sources, just as they are for traditional print and broadcast journalists. The measure would affect journalists, bloggers, online news outlets, and any parties seeking compelled disclosure of confidential information in legal or legislative proceedings.

Sentiment

The available context suggests a generally supportive or modernization-oriented purpose, with the bill framed as an update to existing press protections for digital media. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or debate in the supplied materials. The bill’s caption and text indicate an intent to align the shield law with contemporary online journalism practices.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the scope of the new “web log” category and whether bloggers or online writers should receive the same legal protections as traditional journalists. Questions may arise over who qualifies as being engaged “for gain or livelihood,” whether a site’s mix of news and commentary is sufficient, and whether the definition could be too broad or too narrow. Supporters would likely emphasize equal treatment for digital journalists and source confidentiality, while skeptics might worry about extending strong contempt protections to less formal or less clearly professional online publications.