December 01, 2004
Journalists for Open Government
The Coalition of Journalists for Open Government has launched a web site that compiles news about First Amendment and access issues affecting a free press, as well as resources and other tools for journalists.
The group is headed by Pete Weitzel, founder of the Florida First Amendment Coalition. Use the web site. Stay informed. The First Amendment is under attack as never before. Listen to the words of Associated Press President Tom Curley, one of the founders of Journalists for Open Goverment:
"The story of public life in this country – the story we in the news business show and tell every day – is always, one way or another, about power and the important values and interests that drive its use."National security is one such value. Public safety is another. Fair trials are another. Personal privacy is yet another.
"And freedom to find out and report what’s happening is certainly another. ...
"News is our business. We are the watchers. Open government is the personal interest and constitutional right of every citizen. But we of the fourth estate have by far the greatest means and incentive to speak and fight for it."
(And, don't forget to bookmark Behind the Homefront, the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press project that tracks stories about press access.
Tim
In case you missed this thoughtful addition in the blogosphere.
Robert J. Ambrogi, a lawyer and a journalist based in Rockport launches, a new Media Law Blog A blog about freedom of the press
A blog about freedom of the press
http://www.legaline.com/medialaw.html
PS: If the spirit moves you Tim can you put a few thoughts together on the pros and cons of newspaper commentators using the real name versus making up a nom de plume ...
Tim Dunlop wrote: A quick note to say that I think the practice of people writing under false names on your website is appalling. From what I've read, they say nothing that is particularly 'radical' or anything that would threaten their jobs and yet they feel the need to hide behind a phoney identity. It sucks, and I don't think you should encourage it. It shows contempt for your readers. And surely such sanctioned dishonesty is not good for journalism in general. Cheers
Margo Kingston wrote:
"I want real people to have a voice. Many can't because of the stupid censorship that suffocates them, where people can't be themselves by speaking as a private citizen because of the crappy constraints of their public or private sector jobs. I know it's hard, and I could be caught out, but this marginal seats idea is about perspective and opinion. I want interesting readers to be able to say interesting things to interested readers. No-one's who's offered to write for me on marginal seats has offered to write under their real name yet. How about it?"
Webdiary interactive site
http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/margo_kingston/000448.html