The US government has been making a huge issue of who is a "real" journalist as to ensure journalist protection does not happen spread to very articulate, well informed, level headed bloggers.
Making it about salary is doubly interesting because it essentially means that the government can exercise its control over the journalist establishment via economic means.
Don't like the way the news is covering a certain topic, just threaten the economics of a newspaper or radio station with legislation. That would quickly trickle down from the top management responsible to shareholders to the editor in the form of silencing journalists on a topic that Washington disagrees with.
It sure is, which is why people should be asking what a real oversight committee member is. They're on the offensive because of exactly this, and they want to be able to control information dispersal by normal citizens and others. The way they want to do this is to have a kind of authorization for access which excludes the normal citizenry, amateur or freelance journalists.
When you listen to what the Obama Administration and Congress wants to change in light of the Snowden revelations, think of the aphorism, "the best defense is a good offense." Don't accept their framing, keep your eyes on the real issue: spying on US citizens.
Don't like the way the news is covering a certain topic, just threaten the economics of a newspaper or radio station with legislation. That would quickly trickle down from the top management responsible to shareholders to the editor in the form of silencing journalists on a topic that Washington disagrees with.