First Amendment Center Justice & Journalism

Gene Policinski, John Seigenthaler and the nice folks at the Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center had me back for another Justice & Journalism conference in Nashville. By gentleman’s agreement the conference is unofficially off-the-record so I can’t say much about it except it is a fascinating opportunity to listen to justices from various state and federal courts talk about the media.

The one thing I can share is my own observation that the judges seemed genuinely concerned that the general public largely ignores what goes on in the third branch of government except for the most sensational cases like the Anna Nicole Smith case or precedent-setting cases in controversial areas like abortion. To that extent, conferences like this one which bringing judges and reporters who cover the judiciary are vitally important to the health of our democracy. There has got to be a way that bloggers can pick up the slack and round out the rather thin coverage of the judiciary in the mainstream media.

One of the organizations involved in organizing the conference is the Conference of Court Information Officers. They have asked me to speak at their next annual meeting in Arizona this summer. I hope to explore with them how bloggers and citizen journalists can get more involved in covering the courts.

Related Links

First Amendment Center Article on Blogging

Robert A. Cox, president of the Media Bloggers Association, describes the word “blogging” as “terrible.” He explains: “It is worse than useless because it is an empty vessel into which people can — and do — pour whatever meaning suits them at the time. This breeds confusion and stands in the way of what I believe is the most important development in the media over the past several years — the growth of what is often referred to as ‘citizens media’ or ‘grassroots journalism.’ … Blogging is writing. Period.”

First Amendment Center Article on Justice & Journalism conference, November, 2005

Robert Cox, president of the Media Bloggers Association, said that because a blogger is his or her own editor, if what is posted is erroneous or libelous, it is the blogger’s responsibility to correct or withdraw it.

“If a blogger refuses to [make a correction], there is no direct recourse,” Cox said. “You can’t go to their publisher because they are their own editor.”

Cox said he had not heard of any “live bloggers” watching trials and updating their blogs from the courtroom. “You’re more likely to see a blogger who is ‘live blogging’ by watching a trial on TV,” he said.

Cox lists several other national-headline stories affected greatly by reporting from blogs, including: Dan Rather and the Texas Air National Guard memos, the White House giving press credentials to James Guckert/Jeff Gannon, the resignation of CNN news executive Eason Jordan after publicity surrounding his remarks at the World Economic Forum and the John Kerry-Swift Boat Veterans for Truth controversy.