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FEC Rules Bloggers Are Journalists
Dotnaught writes "The Federal Election Commission today issued an advisory opinion that finds the Fired Up network of blogs qualifies for the 'press exemption' to federal campaign finance laws. The press exemption, as defined by Congress, is meant to assure 'the unfettered right of the newspapers, TV networks, and other media to cover and comment on political campaigns.' The full ruling is available at the FEC site. A noteworthy passage: '...an entity otherwise eligible for the press exception would not lose its eligibility merely because of a lack of objectivity...'"
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Freedom of speech applies to political speech. Campaign finance laws are blatantly unconstitutional. This ruling is offensive because it implies that only established and recognized "press" entities qualify -- and the government, whose interest is markedly not neutral, gets to decide who is and isn't "press".
How can a post be modded "overrated" or "underrated" when it hasn't been rated yet?
Years ago, there were tons of small independent papers publishing all over the country, most of which had a bias toward labor or business or any number of other things. The bias of each was pretty much out in the open.
These mostly got bought up or run out of business, until now when only a relatively small number of much larger papers and media companies run everything.
The bloggers are kind of like a return to that old model for print media in the U.S., I think, except way harder to buy out or run out of business, since most of them aren't even really in business. Biased indie papers are nothing new, and blogging is just the latest version of it. It was media then, it's media now.
There's a good reason why minority rights and dissent are so important in our country: its because the majority doesn't always know what's right.
That being said; the fact is, unbalanced or not, FOX has the right to broadcast whatever message suits their purposes. It certainly isn't the government's job to dictate how politics are covered. Not that profit motive or the free market will dictate a plan of action that guarantees intelligent broadcasting or commendable journalism. Hell, in a counrty where Britney Spears and reality TV can dominate the airwaves, popular opinion and commercial support aren't worth all that much in the intellectual domain.
The media cannot be counted on to provide us with an intelligent view of the world. That is on our own shoulders. Liberal, conservative... it doesn't matter. They have all got their morons and those that have a clue. Just learn to watch with doubt- all that takes is an ability to smell bullshit when its presented to you. Then, maybe, the media could really be held accountable.
Tooba