Bill > HR3121

This bill, titled the "Journalist Protection Act," amends Title 18 of the United States Code to create a new criminal offense for assaulting journalists. The bill defines a "journalist" as an individual who is employed by or contracted with an entity that disseminates news or information through various media, and who engages in newsgathering with the primary intent to investigate and disseminate information to the public. The bill establishes penalties of up to 3 years in prison for causing bodily injury to a journalist and up to 6 years in prison for causing serious bodily injury to a journalist, with the key criteria being that the assault was committed while the journalist was engaged in newsgathering or with the intention of intimidating or impeding their newsgathering activities.