Thursday, August 02, 2007
CIA, NSA SAY BLOGGERS ARE JOURNALISTS
Though surprising, it makes perfect sense that the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency would weigh in on the debate about whether bloggers are journalists.
The above-linked story reveals that both agencies have changed their policies to treat bloggers as journalists. Bloggers now qualify for the same treatment usually reserved for reporters when using the Freedom of Information Act. The moves were made in response to the increasing presence of bloggers at political events.
The change demonstrates that the traditional press uses the same rights as the rest of the public, which helps squelch the myth about reporters having special laws to get information. (Though the law provides the same tools for gathering information to the press and public, the press does get laws protecting it from revealing information, such as shield laws.) More importantly, it shows how prevalent bloggers are becoming in society, whether they are considered journalists or not.
The above-linked story reveals that both agencies have changed their policies to treat bloggers as journalists. Bloggers now qualify for the same treatment usually reserved for reporters when using the Freedom of Information Act. The moves were made in response to the increasing presence of bloggers at political events.
The change demonstrates that the traditional press uses the same rights as the rest of the public, which helps squelch the myth about reporters having special laws to get information. (Though the law provides the same tools for gathering information to the press and public, the press does get laws protecting it from revealing information, such as shield laws.) More importantly, it shows how prevalent bloggers are becoming in society, whether they are considered journalists or not.
Labels: BLOGGING, MEDIA, OPEN GOV'T
// posted by MoJoe @ 17:48 
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