Former Journal Star reporter Elaine Hopkins could access juvenile court hearings as a journalist, but not as a blogger.
8 thoughts on “Peoria judge rules bloggers aren’t journalists”
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Former Journal Star reporter Elaine Hopkins could access juvenile court hearings as a journalist, but not as a blogger.
Comments are closed.
Good call by the judge. Anyway can get a blogger account and call themselves a journalist. Sorry.
I’m a dishwasher in peoria so if I open a blog then I can call myself a journalist and interview police or city administers? Or am I still just a dishwasher. I mean I know I am a a dishwasher but if I have a blog am I a journalist to?
This is a very interesting topic, and undoubtedly one that is in the early stages of development.
In a community absent an objective, mainstream print media that holds to high journalistic standards (think the PJS and its slide into tabloid journalism), a void is created.
Bloggers such as C.J. and Elaine are filling that void by offering an alternative press. Pieces that are well researched, developed and reported are frequent on both sites. How many times have commentors lauded C.J. for his in-depth research and reporting of local issues?
Hopkins cited a reference to an article by Professor Christopher Daly of Boston University. I agree with Daly’s opinion that “anyone who engages in reporting — whether for newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or blogs — deserves equal protection under those laws, whether the news is delivered with a quill pen or a computer”.
(http://www.bu.edu/cdaly/whoisajournalist.html)
prepare for an appeal. this ain’t over!
SHHHHH….nobody tell Billy he’s not a journalist anymore!
I think this is the right decision. So called bloggers do not have the same journalistic integrity (if there is such a thing), ethics, or public view that mainstream journalists work under.
Reporters (and their sponsoring organizations) are held accountable for what they write/publish and have insurance to cover them when they stray into areas where they shouldn’t. Not so for most bloggers.
Ryan: Anyone can also print and distribute a four-page paper and call themselves a journalist. What criteria are you using to define “journalist”? Should journalists be licensed so they can be differentiated from vile bloggers?
Greg: Yes. Many people have two jobs.
PrairieCelt: Thanks, and glad to see you commenting again lately. I was wondering what had happened to you. 🙂
The Guy: You think Elaine will appeal?
Peo Proud: Journalists are not immune from ethical lapses. Here are some examples. Bloggers are also held accountable for what they say; they can be sued for libel just like anybody else. And is there some sort of law that you have to have insurance to be a journalist? I haven’t heard that one.
no, but sponsoring newspapers will have insurance to cover their reporters. I’m aware that reporters have ethical lapses but there is a difference between blogging for fun and entertainment and reporting the news …. Though you tend to blur the distinction with your indepth and factbased approach.
I think the laws will eventually catch up with and address blogging but until then I think the standards applied in this case are appropriate.