Posted on 12/09/2004 10:18:50 PM PST by weegee
When I was linking to CBS News for my Stupefy Me report earlier today (directly below), I came across this gem of a story (FR THREAD ON THE CBS ARTICLE: Blogs: New Medium, Old Politics NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2004). It appears that CBS News not only is striking back at the blogs and bloggers that took out Dan Rather and embarrassed their entire organization, but they are also supporting censorship of us rascally citizens.
Internet blogs are providing a new and unregulated medium for politically motivated attacks. With the same First Amendment protections as newspapers, blogs are increasingly gaining influence.(snip)
…Case precedent on political speech as it pertains to blogs does not exist. But where journalists' careers may be broken on ethics violations, bloggers are writing in the Wild West of cyberspace. There remains no code of ethics, or even an employer, to enforce any standard.
At minimum, the role of blogs in the Daschle-Thune race is a telling harbinger for 2006 and 2008. Some blogs could become new vehicles for the old political dirty tricks.
Like all media, blogs hold the potential for abuse. Experts point out that blogs' unregulated status makes them particularly attractive outlets for political attack.
(snip)
“[The question is] whether blogs are analogous to a sole person campaigning or whether they are very much a media publication, which is essentially akin to an online newspaper,” said Goldberg, who is the legal counsel to the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
(snip)
Beginning next year, the F.E.C. will institute new rules on the restricted uses of the Internet as it relates to political speech.
“I think those questions are going to have to be asked and answered,” said Lillian BeVier, a First Amendment expert at the University of Virginia. “It’s going to be an issue and it should be an issue.”
The whole story is worth a read. It details the impact of blogs on the Daschle-Thune race. Surprisingly, it does not mention the impact of blogs on Dan Rather or our liberal counterparts’ impact on the leaking of exit poll data. There is no word on whether veteran anchors can be used as a vehicles for the old political dirty tricks.
ohhh
I really hope they try to regulate blogs....
This is a perfect time for a "Go ahead, make my day" quote from Cline Eastwood :)
The Legacy Media Strikes Back. Film at 11.
So, they (CBS, et al) can always sue us. That is a form of regulation. Otherwise, we are as free as they are to propagate discussion.
One side of the SD thing is explained here:
http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/2004/week50/index.html#a0002942229
I didn't know about or care about this and I don't now. However, if the guy was a consultant he should have had a notice on his blog to that effect. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. Whatever Duncan B. Black/Hatrios or Oliver Witless do is there own problem.
Good work weegee. Bump for later read.
The world of news reporting has changed.
CBS and the rest of the MSM shmucks are just gonna' have to live with that.
Beginning next year, the F.E.C. will institute new rules on the restricted uses of the Internet as it relates to political speech.
What does this mean?
John Kerry had people from MoveOn.ORG and the Bush parody website working in his campaign.
There was a lot of coordination going on. In the case of the parody site, it actually shut down so that he could devote time to the campaign (and possibly to avoid FEC filing).
What's a blog, what's a PAC, what's an online newspaper/magazine?
YEAH... (best Dean Voice) Bring it On.
The Way too Liberal Supreme Court is pretty much in love with the net, and the bloggers are Exactly the part they are most in love with.
So it looks like CBS is going to have to get used to having 20 million fact checkers looking over thier sholder from now on. 5 years ago they would have gotten away with thier little fraud. No more. And the fact that they tried just hastens their demise.
Yes, bloggers are just opinionated writers at some far off corner of the internet. Funny how so many millions of Americans are able to discern the truth without the help of CBS. Funny how so many Ma and Pa Polyesters are able to wade thru the trash of sex tales and juvinile rantings to focus on about 100 really good writers who can state their case and prove their theorys with tools at hand. Funny how an informal web of such people can bring down a giant.
Oh yes, CBS Please DO float a proposition to Regulate the Bloggers. Please!!!
The Pajamahadeen are here to stay. Ours is an insurgency that can't be uprooted since it has no "centers." Its the first known instance of assymetric info netwarfare in the 21st Century.
Probably a bylaw of CFR. We all knew that it restricted political speech. It is unconstitutional and will have to be tossed out but first it must go to the Supreme Court.
Although I think that even CBS isnt that stupid.
I would bet they back off of this. They know they would get crucified...
Agreed! Sort of like the 9/11 of MSM.
It won't get tossed. But its impossible to enforce it. CFR will collapse of its own weight before then.
Better put some ice on that.
Thanks. It just raises the hair on the back of my neck, that's all...
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