Are bloggers entitled to the same constitutional protection as traditional print and broadcast journalists?
This is the focus in the "second front" in the war to regulate blogs (see previous post).
Captain Ed links a follow-on story appearing in the LAT by David Shaw.
The Shaw article has the obvious spin and interesting conclusion:
"If the courts allow every Tom, Dick and Matt who wants to call himself a journalist to invoke the privilege to protect confidential sources, the public will become even less trusting than it already is of all journalists.
That would ultimately damage society as much as it would the media."
Waaah, waah, wah!
{Of interest: Recent surveys from seasoned Air Force Public Affairs officials carry the same type of comments...hmmm.}
Captain Ed also links to an excellent rebuttal by Slate editor, Jack Shafer.
Again, we agree with Captain Ed:
"Read all of Shafer's delicious scolding. Shaw predicted he would get ravaged by the blogosphere, but an article that obtuse makes an easy target for anyone who defends freedom of speech for writers. Shafer proves himself once again to fit that bill."
From a previous post by Captain Ed:
"If the BCRA as managed by the FEC intends on being the Incumbency Protection Act, then Apple v. Does represents the Corporate Protection Act -- and both serve to protect the franchise of old-line media. Both protections come at the expense of free speech, and at the expense of bloggers."
La Shawn Barber also has a related post. Look for her on MSNBC this Wednesday at 5pm EST.
Finally, Winfield Myers has been writing extensively on the subject and his latest post shows how big business uses the regulatory arm of big government to squelch competition.
My wife and I just saw "The Aviator" at the base theater...the Senate hearings in the case of Hughes Aircraft/TWA versus Pan Am Airlines and the CAB reminded me of this point. I was also thinking of the movie "Tucker" and a couple of others...hmmm, I never thought of Hollywood as an ally.
In any case, Air Force Voices joins Captain Ed, Democracy Project, La Shawn Barber, and a host of others in continuing to shed light on this debate and protect free speech.