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 ...
Amen to that ancient Chinese curse.
There are numerous examples of first-hand news gathering threads here.
One, two, and three are just a few from searching for "FR Exclusive" in the archives.
FR IS NOT A BLOG AND ITS MEMBERS AREN'T BLOGGERS !
I don't think journalists or bloggers should be be granted any special privileges not granted to all ordinary citizens.
It was the perceived granting of special privileges that brought about the abuses of the press and journalists.
Power always corrupts those who can't handle it. Those who can handle power, don't need special privileges and rights. Those are the source of the problems in the country now -- everybody wanting special entitlements.
What the Internet did right was level the playing field -- and now those who have benefited from that, want to be treated special. Being an "ordinary citizen" should be all the rights and privileges we all need.
It is a near certainty that that decision will be taken first to the Court of Appeals of the D.C. Circuit. From there, it would go to the Supreme Court. I believe that the Roberts Court will accept that conclusion on First Amendment grounds. Then, FR will be covered and protected, regardless of whether this bill ever passes, or in what form.
Congressman Billybob
What special privilege? The first amendment was intended to prevent the congress from passing laws abridging our right to free speech. We don't need any "special privilege" to comment on politics. We already have that right!
I'd say something a bit harsher than "hmmmmmmmmmm."
Barbara Olsen was a Freeper. BKO was her screen name.
Lots of "famous" people do/have posted here or just lurked and quite a few have used replies, word for word, without attribution, as their own.
I think we need to know exactly who these powerful news organizations are. I'm a Pennsylvanian and Specter is one of my Senators. I will contact his office tomorrow and see if I can get the courtesy of a response.
Bump.
It's the sh&t freak DinSocialist traitors that
want to gag and muzzle the Free Speech of all american citizens, so they can gp back to being in control
of the public square and not have their pervert
propaganda and lies confronted and exposed. Filthy
wussie DimoLiars like Niel Gabler, a prime examole
of everything that the DomoPervert policies and
propaganda have done to the american male. Like
Cindy Sheehan is the poster freak for the "new"
DimoHag "woman"...
Nierl Gabler, had the rabid audactity to be furious
with any members of the "Press" who aren't actively
engaged it attacking and destroying out government.
Freaking dirty non-man wussy traitor defect.
I bet if you pulled his pants down, you'd find
he only had a little stub of manhood, if not
full female genitalia....cross dressing socialist
fascist lesbian.
Free Republic Conservative/Grassroots Journalists Forum?
I'd hope we wouldn't be so parochial as to not care as long as FR is safe. Many a blog has spilled news that the Liberals That Be would much sooner see off of Gore's invention.
That's the sort of thing I was thinking. Perhaps a section that is printed with some sort of circulation...even if it's just emailed out it should qualify.
Truly. . .good points all BD. . .
(. . .and of course; 'welcome' to FR. . .)
The former nickatnite2003, thanks you. :o)
FR is a conservative news source, not a blog. It must be, cause over half of what is posted here, ends up on Drudge as headlines 2 days later!!
Rep. Mike Pence would be my choice for VPOTUS.
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