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 ...
Some things just make you want to sit back and say, "hmmmmmm...."
Them congress-critters are great, aren't they??
Figures.
I am so happy Bush campaigned for Specter.
Hmmmm, isn't the word I had in mind, but then it's late.
I though Mike Pence was supposed to be one of the good guys.
So what changes do we need in order for us to be considered journalists?
The constitution gets more tattered every day.
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.
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?
So... what was awarded and to whom?
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 ?
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?
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.
AIM honored FReepers Buckhead and TankerKC for their roles in exposing the Rathergate fraud:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1515471/posts
Based on the track record the two Clinons have, you won't make it to any consentration camp.
We do indeed live in interesting times.
Thanks for the link, Jim!
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