Media Bloggers, One Course and Journalist Credentials
After a couple of drubbing emails, I provided updated information at the Media Bloggers Association. Then right after wards I got transferred to this annoying message at the main blog site:
An AP story went out on the wire today (Dec. 22, 2006) discussing efforts by the MBA to “professionalize” (their word not ours) blogging.
(Robert) Cox is about to unveil new membership policies designed to help bloggers who see themselves more as journalists than freeform diarists… Among the planned criteria: Members would have to take an online course offered by the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank, covering legal issues related to blogging.
Members also could seek credentialed status by undergoing training or demonstrating other work as professional journalists. They also must agree to the organization’s ethical standards and adopt formal editorial and corrections policies. Doing so could give them the backing they need to obtain review copies of books and access to newsmakers and events, Cox said.
I find it annoying because I am not sure I want Cox, who is the president of the Media Bloggers Association, the Poytner Institute or anyone else telling me whether I am a journalist or not.
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