To credential, or not to credential...
Last week, I asked a question that might cause a little trouble. That wasn't my intent, but in all fairness, I had to ask.
I sent a note to Jim Fry at the Legislative Research Council and posed the question "If any of us who have political websites or blogs want to have press credentials for session, what do we need to do?" I sent it at the end of the day on Friday, so I wasn't expecting to hear about it for a while.
But, I happened to run into Jim at the inaugural, and yes, he had gotten the note. His response? The legislature is going to have to address that question...
Now, he didn't mean that negatively at all, and I apologized, because my intent wasn't to cause him work and consternation. But, it is a changing world, and whether people want it or not, "new media" is at a point where many consider it just that - media. But, there are still those who look at us like media's "uncivilized trailer-court living cousin who was just on Jerry Springer"
So, it begs the question of "when it comes to press opportunities, how we should be treated?"
The line is blurry when it comes to blogs. Some are media organization sponsored. Some are not. Denise Ross over at the Hog House Blog is a stringer for the Argus Leader, and has started attending the Governor's Press Conferences. I don't know her numbers, but given that her website is newer than mine, I'd assume my readership numbers (750-1300 daily) are bigger than hers.
But given that she writes for the Argus (and has an article in today) should she be credentialed, whereas I wouldn't, because she would have an easier time pointing to a traditional media source?
Seriously, why should they have all the fun? I know I have bigger numbers than a few of South Dakota's weekly newspapers. But somehow, I don't think that a reporter for the South Shore Gazette would have any trouble.
I understand part of the concern is that the bullpen - the little area for the media in the corner of each chamber up by the podium - is way too crowded. But I don't care about that. I'm happy to work from the gallery.
More than anything, if I take a lunch hour, or a half a day off to go up to session, I'm more concerned with the floor privileges that the media is afforded beyond that of the general public. If I want to pop in and chat with a senator or representative for something I'm working on, I'd like the ability to wave that little badge and be let in.
So, right now I'm waiting for the decision, and I know the LRC will be fair. They're a great group of people, and in all my interactions with Jim Fry, he's always been top notch. Much is going to depend on what the chamber's leadership wants. Even if they say "no," I know it's not staff as much as what leadership would prefer.
A few years ago, the White House started credentialing bloggers for the president's press conferences. And now, that decision is going to be made here in our state.
So, just sit tight and see if we bloggers can break the newspaper ceiling in South Dakota.
I sent a note to Jim Fry at the Legislative Research Council and posed the question "If any of us who have political websites or blogs want to have press credentials for session, what do we need to do?" I sent it at the end of the day on Friday, so I wasn't expecting to hear about it for a while.
But, I happened to run into Jim at the inaugural, and yes, he had gotten the note. His response? The legislature is going to have to address that question...
Now, he didn't mean that negatively at all, and I apologized, because my intent wasn't to cause him work and consternation. But, it is a changing world, and whether people want it or not, "new media" is at a point where many consider it just that - media. But, there are still those who look at us like media's "uncivilized trailer-court living cousin who was just on Jerry Springer"
So, it begs the question of "when it comes to press opportunities, how we should be treated?"
The line is blurry when it comes to blogs. Some are media organization sponsored. Some are not. Denise Ross over at the Hog House Blog is a stringer for the Argus Leader, and has started attending the Governor's Press Conferences. I don't know her numbers, but given that her website is newer than mine, I'd assume my readership numbers (750-1300 daily) are bigger than hers.
But given that she writes for the Argus (and has an article in today) should she be credentialed, whereas I wouldn't, because she would have an easier time pointing to a traditional media source?
Seriously, why should they have all the fun? I know I have bigger numbers than a few of South Dakota's weekly newspapers. But somehow, I don't think that a reporter for the South Shore Gazette would have any trouble.
I understand part of the concern is that the bullpen - the little area for the media in the corner of each chamber up by the podium - is way too crowded. But I don't care about that. I'm happy to work from the gallery.
More than anything, if I take a lunch hour, or a half a day off to go up to session, I'm more concerned with the floor privileges that the media is afforded beyond that of the general public. If I want to pop in and chat with a senator or representative for something I'm working on, I'd like the ability to wave that little badge and be let in.
So, right now I'm waiting for the decision, and I know the LRC will be fair. They're a great group of people, and in all my interactions with Jim Fry, he's always been top notch. Much is going to depend on what the chamber's leadership wants. Even if they say "no," I know it's not staff as much as what leadership would prefer.
A few years ago, the White House started credentialing bloggers for the president's press conferences. And now, that decision is going to be made here in our state.
So, just sit tight and see if we bloggers can break the newspaper ceiling in South Dakota.
Comments
Good luck with the credentialing thing. Your articles on this blog are much more insightful than most of the MSM. And we get to comment on them too, which is so much FUN!
Credentialed bloggers should be held to the same standard that the conventional media lives by and that is nobody can say anything unless they sign their name to it and it is moderated for civility.
Some cook could probably whip that up in a minute or two.
I had only heard the term and never read it, but assumed that accepting something at face value was "taking it for granite." Seemed to make sense until I stuck it into a freshmen English course paper and found out correct version is "take it for granted".
I don't much like comments from nom de plumes or pseudonyms adopted by comment writers, but they are much less a problem than whole blogs written anonymously or those sponsored by unknown or unspecified special interests.
The Fourth and Fifth Estates say they stand in the shoes of the public in terms of public access. So, what if a citizen journalist wants to stand in their own shoes?
So, what is the criteria? Must have paid subscribers? Must have advertising? Must have a certain circulation or readership or viewership? Must have no unsigned letters to the editor or blog comments? What about a call-in show where they let people comment without saying their full name? Must not have a certain political "point of view"?
I wish the LRC luck in setting up some sort of fair yet workable credentialing policies.
In the meantime, save me a seat up in the gallery next to Sibby.
BTW, Pat, while your numbers are great, mine aren't bad. I have more weekly unique readership than most weekly newspapers in SD as well. Send your excess traffic my way. I have the bandwith to accomodate them. (grin)
Todd Epp
Senior Seating Chart Maker
S.D. Watch
http://thunewatch.squarespace.com
I am talking about law and not an office policy.
As far as exceptions, I believe that only bloggers who allow feedback should be given passes. Otherwise, it's just one person's ego trip.
Regarding problems with lible: You do a decent job of screening things to prevent lible, but it wouldn't be a bad thing if you set up your site so that you could pre-screen stories before they are posted in the same manner that the RCJ does. Then you would have the same type of control that other media have over their content.
Good luck.
By the way, 10:22. Have you read Time or Newsweek lately? Almost every source quoted has requested their name be witheld for one reason or another lately.
Sign of the times, I guess.
SouthDakotaMac will have his press credentials or his diabolical MonkeyBots will destroy the state! So, be reasonable and give him his green badge.
And, some would say what you describe is what a newspaper columnist does.
Todd Epp
Senior Free the MonkeyBots Editor
S.D. Watch
http://thunewatch.squarespace.com
Interesting discussion, Pat. Best regards, Bob Mercer