While we are talking County bizzo, I was told the other day that assistant Minnehaha county administrator, Robert Wilson told the chair of the election commission that he didn’t want bloggers on the email press release list. His reasoning was we ‘have a point of view’. Damn right we do, and you are going to hear that view right now.
The chair submitted the email contacts of three important blogs in the state, South DaCola, Madville Times and Dakota War College (well at least two of them are important 🙂
I found this odd, because we are all different, and as we would all attest, we are on several press release email lists (I often get chastised when I don’t post something from these peeps). They range from ag, art, party politics, candidates, medical, homelessness and several other non-profits and government entities.
We are not monsters in the closet. But after the appointment of Jean Bender today, I’m finding out more and more that the county likes to operate from the view of information lockdown.
Speaking of that, I guess at the election review meeting today the new machines locked up on the ES & S techs as they were bragging about how great of machines they were.
Image: John Hult, Argus Leader Twitter feed
Priceless. Nothing better then a car salesman telling you how great a car is and it won’t start.
There was also a diatribe from (an elected official) defending Bob Litz because he doesn’t have enough cold storage space (Hey, Bob’s house is big enough to store his beer, free weights and deer jerky).
During the meeting, Pearson didn’t hold back. She says the commissioners aren’t providing adequate amount of space needed to work on election day. Pearson says they need enough space to keep the ballots secure. Ballots need to be in a temperature controlled room, otherwise moisture can effect whether the counting machines will read them.
As commissioner Kelly recommended from the beginning, there should not have been any other elected officials on this commission, and in my opinion, public employees. They are only going to defend instead of fairly review. I recommend the rest of the commission purge these members now and reappoint.
Wow! I mean just Wow! This is just totally, Wow!
Unless I am mistaken in the later part of 2013, a judge ruled that bloggers were journalist in the vein.
I understand the dim view some take of blogger (especially political bloggers) we seem to be there to stir the pot cause trouble. Sometimes we dig and dig to find nothing. Other times we uncover a true gem the MSM overlooks. The MSM outlets also have a point of view; they are just not as overt to show them.
None the less, Bloggers deserve to be on the press release list. At least those that want to be.
I think the judge ruled that Mr. Powers was a journalist. If I write things on a gum wrapper and then tape it to the park bench am I a journalist? Now don’t get me wrong, nobody loves Mr. E’s bloggings better than me and I think he should be on TV too. Then he’d be a journalist for sure.
I think it is appropriate for well established bloggers, with known identities to receive press releases.
Julie Pearson sounds like starting with the basics is the first step — good idea. Let’s see what else she comes up with, this is a good start.
You know, most businesses, banks, governments, etc. have Disaster Plans to use in contingency situations. That should be part of the future strategy for elections when problems crop up.
The judge you cite got it wrong BIG TIME because it was one politically motivated and every other court in the nation has said they are not journalists. http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidcoursey/2012/03/29/are-bloggers-really-journalists-not-if-they-ask-for-money/
I agree with teatime (#3). Print and broadcast media doesn’t seem to reach the people. Blogging doesn’t reach everyone but there’s more interest because we’ve learned media is controlled and not subjective (free speech). What one must remember us that some blog comments are planted by corrupted government. Nonetheless, blogs are the best way to get the real story with commentary.
The Argus should be renamed ‘Chu Hoi’. In Vietnam, the US dropped ticket sized pages from aircraft advising Cong to surrender. The VC did the same but they placed them on the ground where you’d been. They’re free speech but also propaganda.
Everything I can find states bloggers (even the slimy ones) are journalists. (sort of) They (we) all deserve the same rights, protections, and privileges afforded by the First Amendment, and the law.
Let anyone who want a press e-mail to them sign up for them through the web site.
The way I look at it, I am no different then Stormland TV, I have a slant, and so do they.
I don’t think anyone should be chosen to receive press releases in this day and age. Government agencies should make press releases to a website for anyone to see.