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Media "Shield" Won't Protect Bloggers [Free Republic mentioned]
Accuracy in Media (aim.org) ^ | November 28, 2005 | By Cliff Kincaid

Posted on 11/27/2005 11:28:00 PM PST by Jim Robinson

In our recent awards ceremony honoring the Freepers, people who post comments and articles on the FreeRepublic website, Accuracy in Media was demonstrating an understanding of the power of new media. We cannot let the Big Media monopolize the concept of journalism. When we honored Harry MacDougald and Paul Boley with the Reed Irvine Investigative Journalism award, we were recognizing that ordinary citizens can be journalists, too.

Unfortunately, the sponsors of the so-called Free Flow of Information Act, or the federal media shield bill, do not understand this critical fact. In an October 10 article by Mark Fitzgerald on the Editor & Publisher website, he noted that Senator Richard Lugar, main sponsor of the shield law in the Senate, has said that bloggers would "probably not" be considered journalists under the bill. On the other hand, Rep. Mike Pence, the main sponsor of the bill in the House, says some bloggers will be covered, but only those involved in "gathering news." He says those covered by the bill would have to be evaluated on a "blog-by-blog basis."

This confusion is a terrible indictment of the bill and its sponsors. They don't know what they're doing. It demonstrates the tendency of politicians to get behind something that sounds good but which is impractical, even dangerous. After all, who can be against the "free flow of information?" But when you get down to the nitty-gritty of who is actually a "covered person" or journalist under the bill, the sponsors seem to throw up their hands, leaving definitions to others. That's irresponsible.

(Excerpt) Read more at aim.org ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; aim; bloggers; cfr; fec; freespeech; mccainfeingold; mikepence; newmedia; pajamahadeen; weblogs
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"To make matters worse, the Pence bill has already been rewritten. The bill was H.R. 581 and then it became H.R. 3323. Whatever the version of the bill, the Justice Department has said that it could potentially cover "news" organizations like Al-Jazeera and protect its terrorist "sources." Even an Al-Qaeda media front could be covered, Justice says."

Some things just make you want to sit back and say, "hmmmmmm...."

1 posted on 11/27/2005 11:28:01 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson

Them congress-critters are great, aren't they??


2 posted on 11/27/2005 11:30:09 PM PST by Keith in Iowa (You know you have bird flu if you have usual flu symptoms + desire to crap on freshly washed cars.)
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To: All
"In the House, the bill only has 63 co-sponsors. But it also has the backing of powerful news organizations, which have concealed their role in lobbying for the bill from media consumers. In the Senate, there are only 10 sponsors. But it has already received two sympathetic hearings from Senator Arlen Specter of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In both cases, Specter refused to accept in person testimony from Accuracy in Media against the bill. He doesn't want the truth about this dangerous bill to get out."

Figures.

3 posted on 11/27/2005 11:31:13 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson

I am so happy Bush campaigned for Specter.


4 posted on 11/27/2005 11:34:27 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Peace Begins in the Womb)
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To: Jim Robinson

Hmmmm, isn't the word I had in mind, but then it's late.


5 posted on 11/27/2005 11:35:33 PM PST by DoughtyOne (MSM: Public support for war waining. 403/3 House vote against pullout vaporizes another lie.)
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To: Jim Robinson
But FR isn't a "blog" and we aren't "bloggers", so why do we even fall into that category ?
6 posted on 11/27/2005 11:35:37 PM PST by nopardons
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To: DoughtyOne

I though Mike Pence was supposed to be one of the good guys.


7 posted on 11/27/2005 11:36:28 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson
Main Entry: jour·nal·ist Pronunciation: -n&l-ist Function: noun 1 a : a person engaged in journalism; especially : a writer or editor for a news medium b : a writer who aims at a mass audience 2 : a person who keeps a journal

So what changes do we need in order for us to be considered journalists?

8 posted on 11/27/2005 11:37:08 PM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: Jim Robinson
Left to talk amongst themselves without loud very noises from us and those like us, no telling how much more damage Congress will do to free speech.

The constitution gets more tattered every day.


10 posted on 11/27/2005 11:38:09 PM PST by Avoiding_Sulla (You can't see where we're going when you don't look where we've been.)
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To: nopardons

Doesn't matter. Repeal McCain Feingold. Repeal all restrictions on free speech. Abolish the FEC. Restore the first amendment. Restore freedom. If not, refer to the second amendment. Stock up on ammo.


11 posted on 11/27/2005 11:38:52 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson

Does this mean I should retract all the crappy things I've said in earlier posts about the lovely and smart Hillary Clinton should she become dictator, FR server logs seized by her schutzstaffel and I end up in a concentration camp?


12 posted on 11/27/2005 11:40:44 PM PST by SpaceBar
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To: Jim Robinson
In our recent awards ceremony honoring the Freepers...

So... what was awarded and to whom?

13 posted on 11/27/2005 11:41:15 PM PST by DTogo (Merry CHRISTmas, and a healthy & happy New Year!)
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To: Jim Robinson

Agreed, but still, WE aren't a blog/bloggers and we MAKE news and report it as well. Doesn't that make us more journalist than blogs/bloggers ?


14 posted on 11/27/2005 11:42:08 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Jim Robinson
From the article: Whatever the version of the bill, the Justice Department has said that it could potentially cover "news" organizations like Al-Jazeera and protect its terrorist "sources." Even an Al-Qaeda media front could be covered, Justice says."

Jim Robinson: Some things just make you want to sit back and say, "hmmmmmm...."

Very true, Mr Robinson. Very true.

Question... Wouldn't supporting and protecting the journalist/propaganda arm/branch of a terrorist organization still be supporting and protecting said terrorist organization?

15 posted on 11/27/2005 11:42:28 PM PST by Paul C. Jesup
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To: Jim Robinson

I'm not familiar with Pence. He may or may not be a good guy. I do think it's possible to write some of these types of bills and create a loophole protection you didn't intend to. The important thing to watch is what he does after this is brought to his attention. We should rattle his cage in a respectful manner and ask him to fix the problems.


16 posted on 11/27/2005 11:43:53 PM PST by DoughtyOne (MSM: Public support for war waining. 403/3 House vote against pullout vaporizes another lie.)
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To: DTogo; Buckhead; TankerKC

AIM honored FReepers Buckhead and TankerKC for their roles in exposing the Rathergate fraud:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1515471/posts


17 posted on 11/27/2005 11:46:13 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: SpaceBar

Based on the track record the two Clinons have, you won't make it to any consentration camp.


18 posted on 11/27/2005 11:49:48 PM PST by U S Army EOD (I NEED TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER TAG LINE)
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To: Paul C. Jesup

We do indeed live in interesting times.


19 posted on 11/27/2005 11:51:01 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson

Thanks for the link, Jim!


20 posted on 11/27/2005 11:52:22 PM PST by DTogo (Merry CHRISTmas, and a healthy & happy New Year!)
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