MnIndy Video: Independent media ‘not welcome’ at Coleman ‘media availability’

Don’t be so affable, nervous, and defensive. Show that Society of Professional Journalists credential, and put the onus on them to explain your exclusion. Think: what would Triumph the Insult Comic Dog do? He would poop on them.

That was so cold Eskola. “I have no opinion.” I wouldn’t let that one go Paul.

Closing out a portion of the media at a press conferance for illegimate reasons is unacceptable within the profession or without; even an insult to the audience of voters on Main Street.

This is one event that speaks most powerfully, to the Coleman sense of justice (or in this case, injustice) and puts a red mark beside his respect to freedom of the press.

MPR’s ‘uncommitted other guy’…is he the same Eric who started as an expert hunter-gatherer of afternoon soap opera-trivia up-north until he headed south to the bright lights of MPR? No, must be another guy…but would certainly explain why he never learned to speak up against injustice. You don’t learn that on the afternoon soaps, I betcha?

What Coleman needs desperately now, is donations, clean donations…and not from big-time donors this time…let the people give the suits…everybody’s got something to give, tucked away in mothballs. and don’t worry about the mothballs…smells better than the Neiman Marcus gifts.

Oh, yes almost forgot. Keep the suits small; very small. This is a small man indeed, who will be their beneficiary.

anybody want to place a good-will box outside Norm’s office for start the clothing drive rolling…?

Next time you are met by such functionaries, I recommend you politely but adamantly ask for the next responsible person up the line until you get an answer – the question of “legitimacy” can’t be understated in its gravity on constitutional issues around freedom of the press, especially when it comes to press coverage of an avowed public servant’s “media availability” when pursuing public office. Given the huge percentages of young Americans who get their news electronically, such a move by a campaign could be misconstrued as an effort to deny information access there and disenfranchise those voters. Clearly, the Independent is a well-established journalistic institution as deserving of constitutional protections as the Trib or Pioneer Press or whomever. E-news sources such as yours all over the country, whether associated with a ‘paper’ news source or not should be taking a very close look at how power is being used in this instance and what its larger implications may be. It doesn’t matter what Party affiliation somebody has, when they do this kind of thing, the antennas should go up.

What happens when you try to get into DFL press conferences? An even better comparison would be what happens when conservative media try to get in, but do they even do reporting? Seems like they just do commentary.

I was hoping for better from Nick Coleman, and Joe Kimball’s site is legitimate but pretty obscure too.

Well, they let Nick Coleman in, so we can rule out political hackery and lack of talent or a penchant for amphigory as reasons for disqualification.

Maybe the test was anyone that presented themselves as “journalists” but has some [George] Soros money in [their] checking account.

You guys really crack me up.

Well, they let in the folks parading as “journalists” with Rupert Murdoch money in their pockets…

…so I don’t think you can rule out political hackery.

There is no way for independent journalists to get a press card in the United States. SPJ membership is not a press card. As a result, you’re left at the mercy of name recognition and ignorance.

On that second point, Mayor Coleman needs to recognize that due to the First Amendment, journalism is not a licensed profession. The affordable and scaleable medium of the Internet allows for massively increased publishing power by individuals, and has therefore changed the definition of journalist.

Some interesting points are made by Mary-Rose Papandrea in her article, “Citizen Journalism and the Reporter’s Privilege ” (March 19, 2007, Boston College Law School. Boston College Law School Faculty Papers. Paper 167.) Download source: http://lsr.nellco.org/bc/bclsfp/papers/167

Sorry, Senator not Mayor; Norm, not Chris.

I’m glad to see, real journalism returning to America. These so called news networks are the mouthpieces of the corporations and I for one am tuning them out. I would love to see a newspaper in the Twin Cities that actually covered the news. You have a vote also. Turn off the news and the networks will come around quickly.