As I continue on my new blogging endeavour for class, stories regarding blogging always catch my curious eye. Blogging has become a culture within itself. The blogging world has become such a prominent force in modern day media. Blogs, as has been shown in the new millenium, can have a political impact, voicing opinion as well as spreading information.
Recently, a woman named Crystal Cox, an "investigative blogger" wrote a post claiming attorney Kevin Padrick acted illegally and unethically regarding the proceedings of a bankrupcy case handled by him. In response, Padrick sued Cox for defamation-for 2.5 million dollars. In the trial, U.S District Judge Marco Hernandez ruled that Cox could not be considered a journalist. If she were to be defined as a journalist, she would be granted the protections given to mainstream reporters and outlets.
Blogging is still an expression of free speech. Says Kelli L. Sager, a lawyer writing for the NY Times debate:
"the rights of free speech and press under the First Amendment does not and cannot depend on the medium through which information is exchanged."
So yes, blogging should be protected under the first amendment. Blogging should also be given the respect it deserves in the Journalist's world. Journalists are given the right to shield laws. Shield laws protect journalists and reporters from being forced to reveal sources and confidential information.
Ellyn Angelotti, an expert on social media, asks:
"So who is a journalist? A journalist -- good or bad -- possesses a hunger to pursue the truth and to share it in compelling ways. "
According to this judge, a blogger who is writing about the very same topic as a reporter should not be given the same rights. Is this not out of date? For an age of techonological growth and advancement, the laws surrounding them seem to be lagging behind.
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