Department of Homeland Security expecting election violence?

[tman]

lIMO the first amendment guarantee of freedom of the press implies that all the citizenry able to disseminate information is de facto "The Press", just as the second amendment implies that all the able bodied citizenry is "The Militia".

Interesting opinion.

I wonder if it's ever been litigated.


Sent from my iPhone using that app which shall not be named.

[Lunchbox]

Without creds, you're just a guy with a camera who happens to be in the wrong place and the wrong time

Why does a press pass make one special? It seems to me that it just says you're a civilian working for a (probably) for profit information corporation. IMO the first amendment guarantee of freedom of the press implies that all the citizenry able to disseminate information is de facto "The Press", just as the second amendment implies that all the able bodied citizenry is "The Militia".

I understand that the concept of what "The Press" is has become bureaucratized and institutionalized over the years, but I still object to the idea that there is any class of American civilians who get special privileges by virtue of for whom they work.

You do get into better areas and better access with press credentials. I guess that would make them special. Kind of a weak argument I know, but still.

[Grayskies]

With the internet any one can set up a blog, or a news site, or even youtube or Ipod broadcasts. What truely is the difference besides size?

[Jeff Bergquist]

lIMO the first amendment guarantee of freedom of the press implies that all the citizenry able to disseminate information is de facto "The Press", just as the second amendment implies that all the able bodied citizenry is "The Militia".

Interesting opinion.

I wonder if it's ever been litigated.

I suspect that the courts would see it differently from me, there's a long standing tradition in the US of treating the rights of corporations with more deference than individual citizens, (apparently the government doesn't agree with Romney that corporations are people) but IMO that doesn't make it right.

[tman]

With the internet any one can set up a blog, or a news site, or even youtube or Ipod broadcasts. What truely is the difference besides size?

There's likely some sort of credentialing process, where you pay money to a government bureaucracy.


Sent from my iPhone using that app which shall not be named.

[photogpat]

With the internet any one can set up a blog, or a news site, or even youtube or Ipod broadcasts. What truely is the difference besides size?

There's likely some sort of credentialing process, where you pay money to a government bureaucracy.


Sent from my iPhone using that app which shall not be named.

Never paid anything for mine, and I've been behind the ropes more than I care to mention -- but for security purposes, they have to have a vetting process for press with access to secure areas. Applying for a press pass to attend a private event really isn't all that hard, so long as you have a legitimate outlet for your wares that can be checked out by event organizers. Private event organizers are looking for maximum exposure from media -- if you have a blog with 3 followers, you likely won't get official creds.

For public events, wearing a set of easily identifiable press creds on your outermost layer "can" prevent being swept up along with the rabble. I said "can" prevent, because there are numerous examples of members of the press being detained/sprayed/arrested/etc by simply being in the wrong place at the right time! Better yet is to keep your head on a swivel and be familiar enough with protest events to not get caught up in the sweep, unless that pulitizer prize winning shot is happening there...then you sacrifice something for your art!