Jason Lee Miller over at WebPro News released a blog post today stating that as far as the United States House of Representatives is concerned, bloggers, freelancers, independents, and nonprofit journalists are not “true journalists.” As such, they should not be protected from having to divulge their news sources if asked to by the government.
Wow. Really? Are we really here? God. I’m still reeling from this one. The US Government – or part of it – actually putting into words its desire to deem some Americans free to speak their mind and seek the truth without fear of having to put their sources in jeopardy while all but issuing those not wearing their US Press Pass a gag order (emphasis on the “gag”).
I can’t really put my disgust and frustration any better than Jason did – so here’s his take:
Apparently our “representatives†have a real problem with citizen journalism done for the sake of journalism and for the good of democracy, and believe protecting the “free flow of information†is only reserved for officially approved press. No bloggers, no patriotic radicals, no underground agitator pamphleteers like the ones who actually founded and fought for this country to begin with.
Hate to (once again) school our freaking government about the freaking Constitution they freaking pledge to uphold, but this is Congress making a law abridging the freedom of the press, a violation of the First Amendment. I might be more sympathetic if they missed one further down the list, BUT IT’S THE FIRST FREAKING ONE.
- Image of Chuck Welch
I have a good friend, Chuck Welch, who’s been in the journalism game for a long time. He’s worked for newspapers in roles that I suppose our good friends in “The House” would sanction as true journalism, but he’s also one heck of a crusader when it comes to telling it like ti is – and offering platforms for others to do so – via blogs.
The best examples of Chuck’s efforts can be found over at LakelandLocal.com and MetroI4News.com. Be sure to check out articles by Billy Townsend and newcomer James MacMeekin (you can find Jim’s Blog here) to get a feel for the freedom Chuck provides his regular contributors.
You’ll find no advertisements on Chuck’s blogs – despite their higher than average traffic numbers and high PR rankings.v The cash just isn’t worth the sock he’d have to consider putting into his mouth should one of his advertisers decide to make bad choices.
Good for you, Chuck. I’m with you. And if they ask me who my sources are… I’ll take my cue from C-SPAN and the lads from the Peanut Corporation of America and plead the 5th.
Other Articles of Interest
- United States – Another reporter threatened with contempt for refusing to reveal sources (newswire.ca)
- WebProNews: US confidentiality bill overlooks freelancers and blogger-journalists (blogs.journalism.co.uk)
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Considering some popular blogs get far more readers than any of the biggest news papers/agencies I think it’s time to re-evaluate just what counts as journalism “proper”
Monty, I agree! While Citizen Journalism is still subject to the same scrutiny that we ascribe to its mass media sibling, we must keep it free from the threat of governmental rebuke or punishment should the views contained therein go against the grain – so to speak.