Posted on 06/05/2013 9:18:43 AM PDT by don-o
Whether bloggers count as journalists has mostly been a matter of esoterics for reporter types. But as Congress weighs a media shield law in response to the Associated Press/Justice Department subpoena scandal, the question is gaining an urgency that lawmakers are finding hard to ignore as they turn to writing the bill.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., took on the issue—and stumbled.
"Who is a journalist is a question we need to ask ourselves," he said. "Is any blogger out there saying anything—do they deserve First Amendment protection? These are the issues of our times."
The verbal slipup aside (of course bloggers are covered under the Bill of Rights!), Graham's riffing on constitutional law exposes one of the age-old tensions between journalism as a product and journalism as an activity. What Graham really meant to ask was whether bloggers deserve the specific protections of the First Amendment that are granted to the press. But as the line between blogger and journalist has blurred, a far more relevant challenge is figuring out whether those protections apply to the behavior of finding and passing on (sometimes secret) information, or if they apply only to people with little plastic ID badges to prove their affiliation.
In some ways, what this episode really suggests is that it might be time to retire the word "blogger" as an artifact of the aughts.
“Oh... I get it now. I have to be a journalist in order to be given protection under the first amendment.
Clearly, the internet blogs have taken a front seat to providing a venue for all American’s to express their opinions without reproach.
Or am I missing something from Durbin and Graham here?”
Uh-oh! According to LG you have just violated the 1st Amendment! Oops! We ALL have violated it! /sarc
“But do bloggers have one of those cards in their hats that say PRESS?”
Well, we could always make some plastic cards that say, “PRESS”! ;-)
It's a waste of bandwidth and slows a server down. If everyone got into the habit of excerpting a post things would not get so bogged down around here. If you don't want to read it there is no reason to click through .
Personal blogs = vanity posts.
They are not deserving of commercial status simply due to existence.
Wow just wow ! How very fascist of you . You put your foot in deeper every time you open mouth.
Tea party not deserving of political status simply due to existence. Tea party members slated for death panels due to their lack of political status simply due to existence . Same mentality
You are exactly what is wrong with this country . Hope you enjoy the pennies the enemy is paying you to help shut up conservative bloggers who have broken more news than any of our sold out lamestream media has.
Point out a blogger I have “shut up”.
Explain how wanting their full content posted equates to censorship.
The First Amendment is not about monetary endeavors. You have these rights whether your livelihood depends on them or not.
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