I didn't get invited to the Netroots Nation conference. I guess I'm not influential enough: I haven't raised any money for any politician on my blogging site. Nor have I endorsed any particular candidate for any office. It seems to me there is something rather incestuous about political campaigners wooing bloggers and bloggers making themselves available to be wooed by them. Obviously, bloggers have proven they can accomplish serious online fundraising and that makes them a target, which is why campaigners (Democrat and Republican and any other party for that matter) are seeking them out.
However, if political bloggers claim they should be given the same status as mainstream press and allowed access to meetings and other events just like the mainstream press and they want to have the same legal protections in the courts of law, then partisan politics and fundraising doesn't help their cause, it doesn't make them look like impartial media. They claim they are just giving another side of the news, political or other news, than the mainstream press that otherwise would not get out there. That's all well and good, and probably true. However, if the blogging nation wants to be seen as rising above politics and being known, like the press, as watchdogs over the government realm, then this kind of elbow rubbing is the wrong way to do it. Bloggers are seeking both to be considered as the press but not be tied by the same restrictions as the press. They can't have it both ways.
A true press is not affiliated with a party or politician and doesn't purport to take a position on any issue. Mainstream press plays a mediator of or funnel through which information flows for the public. If bloggers think they can do a better job, then hobnobbing with politicians certainly gives an opposite perception. Raising funds for politicians seems to not be what a press is all about, not even an alternative press.
At the Netroots Nation conference, a democratic contender for the Kentucky Senate provided a "Something Stinks in Washington" air freshener for conference goodie bags. It seems something stinks in bloggerland as well.
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4 comments:
As to bloggers gaining access to political meetings - my experience as a journalist has been such meetings at most levels don't check credentials or when they do don't vet them. So other than the White House press room and maybe the Pentagon, from what political meetings exactly, are they barred?
I was speaking more about the citizen journalist trying to find a way into the meetings of higher ups. Even some state and local governments give nothing if you are not with an established media company.
In my blog I was referring more to the seeking of protection under shield laws and other actions with the court system. I don't know who you are or who you represent, perhaps yourself, but from what I read, if a blogger is not attached to a big name media organization, even big blogging organizations like Slate or DailyKos, he or she has a hard time getting credentialed.
Especially for the White House, Pentagon, and even the chambers of Congress.Why would the White House Press room or the Pentagon keep out bloggers? Should citizen journalists be allowed to be present at White House briefings?
By the way, this is more in relation to an online journalism class at the masters level. I can't say as a blogger, I've ever experienced being turned away at a high level meeting because I wasn't credentialed. I've never tried. But I am a local reporter and if I wasn't with the media, various local and state governments wouldn't give me the time of day. They would tell me to go talk to my representative.
Have you been at high-level meetings where people (like some under-the-radar blogger) other than major media companies have been allowed in? That would be positive news.
And if credentials aren't being vetted, why have them at all?
I was speaking more about the citizen journalist trying to find a way into the meetings of higher ups. Even some state and local governments give nothing if you are not with an established media company.
In my blog I was referring more to the seeking of protection under shield laws and other actions with the court system. I don't know who you are or who you represent, perhaps yourself, but I assume you are "credentialed." From what I read, if a blogger is not attached to a big name media organization, even big blogging organizations like Slate or DailyKos, he or she has a hard time getting credentialed.
Especially for the White House, Pentagon, and even the chambers of Congress.Why would the White House Press room or the Pentagon keep out bloggers? Should citizen journalists be allowed to be present at White House briefings?
By the way, this is more in relation to an online journalism class at the masters level. I can't say as a blogger, I've ever experienced being turned away at a high level meeting because I wasn't credentialed. I've never tried. But I am a local reporter and if I wasn't with the media, various local and state governments wouldn't give me the time of day. They would tell me to go talk to my representative.
Have you been at high-level meetings where people (like some under-the-radar blogger) other than major media companies have been allowed in? That would be positive news.
And if credentials aren't being vetted, why have them at all?
Ooops. I typed my comment and then it disappeared so I retyped it and both showed up. Sorry about that!
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