There They Go Again

The MSM comes to the defense of bloggers! No, really:

SAN JOSE, Calif. – More than a half-dozen news organizations are supporting three online reporters who wrote about a top-secret product that Apple Computer Inc. says was protected by trade secret laws.

In December, Apple sued 25 unnamed individuals – possibly Apple employees – who allegedly leaked confidential product information to three Web publishers. The Cupertino-based company said the leaks violated nondisclosure agreements and California’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act.

In Apple’s attempts to identify the source of the leaks, the company asked the reporters’ Internet providers to turn over e-mail records.

The reporters – Monish Bhatia, Jason O’Grady and another person who writes under the pseudonym Kasper Jade – tried to block the subpoenas. They said that identifying sources would create a “chilling effect” that could erode the media’s ability to report in the public’s interest.

Let me get this straight. We’re journalists when we’re taking on a big, bad corporation. But when we’re taking on big-name politicians, we’re pajama-wearing cranks.

Whatever.