Unless things have changed over the past few years, it’s the publishers who ‘license’ journalists now and they have always done so by choosing whose writing or photos will be included in a publication and whose will not.

I don’t think that’s ever going to change in any media and I’d hate to see the government become involved in the process. It would be the end of the so-called free press.

An obvious problem arises when all publishers are wealthy and we end up with the same point-of-view in all publications and indeed, all mainstream media. That is happening now with Rupert Murdoch, as it used to happen with Conrad Black, who always replaced professional editors with advertisement salespeople.

‘Ethics’ per se, usually have no connection to mainstream journalism today. “Ethics’ and ‘excellence’ are only important insofar as they attract paying customers.

Since pretty well anyone can run a blog, we’re experiencing a short period of balance in media these days and everyone seems to be shocked by a situation that was once common.

Blogs are speech, so why shouldn’t they be protected by existing laws relating to free speech? In my opinion, the question is only being asked because bloggers are becoming reporters and wealthy publishers have no control over what the populace reports or the publication of their opinions.

“A journalist usually operates in an environment of editorial oversight.”

Ay, there’s the rub.

The power to license is the ability to control. “Certify” the press, and censorship is implicit.

What about “responsibility”? By what standard?

I vote “HELL NO!”

A journalist usually operates in an environment of editorial oversight. Material is created, then depending on content and topic, fact-checked and edited for grammar and style.

Sadly, in the relentless competitive environment created by the web this distinction is deteriorating as publications streamline staffs and accelerate production to meet the voracious appetite of the public.

But the blogosphere is equally untrustworthy simply because these are non-professional journalists. Yet, I do not believe blog writers need to be licensed, but I do believe they are subject to the same laws as journalist (slander, libel, plagarism) but also the same rights of free press, including freedom of speech and source protection.

We have seen multiple cases of bloggers scooping the mainstream press. They keep the media honest, even though they may not have the same size of audience. Good stories will get out.

Personally I do not see a difference between bloggers and old newsletter journalists such as IF Stone and George Seldes. Well, except for the fact that there is now a horde.

- – - maybe – - -

only bloggers who are also traditional journalists should have such protections==whatever anyone thinks that is?? First Amendment still applies to everyone as long as Cheney is kept busy with his investments.

Should people who write messages on billboards be given press credentials?

Seems there needs to be a test of some kind. Perhaps starting with the requirement to already having some minimal presence in the MSM. Or maybe a Google ranking.

RBG

RBG