Only “moral journalists” need apply.

Last month Michigan State Senator Bruce Patterson introduced legislation that would seek to license journalists in Michigan and to prove their “moral character”.  I always wonder how one does that.  The legislation would:

Set up a board to check reporters’ credentials, license them as if they were manicurists or lawyers, and charge them a registration fee. Then issue those who pass muster and pay the state the designation of “Michigan Registered Reporter.”

The legislation for this voluntary system is unlikely to pass in Michigan.  Anyone want to wager on how long it will take our Georgia legislature to pick up on this?


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4 responses to “Only “moral journalists” need apply.”

  1. JMPrince Avatar

    Sure. Better Journalism: Hardship& Hope, Stories of Economic Crisis on Tobacco Road (Here NC):

    http://www.carolinaphotojournalism.org/economy/index.php

    JMP

  2. CatherineAtlanta Avatar

    JMP. Only one link per comment now. Anything more goes in the spam hopper.

  3. JMPrince Avatar

    [Let’s try that again & try to remove some of the links…]
    More on ‘moral journos’ : The Daily Howler asks about Mark Kirk’s forgiven lies about his ‘glorified’ military history over @ the NYT:

    “SAME AS IT EVER WAS! The gods used Mark Kirk to send us a clue about the New York Times:
    TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2010

    dailyhowler.com/dh060110.shtml

    Locally, Missed this ‘Grab yer guns’! moment by Bob Barr via the AJC last week:

    “AJC Stirring Up the Anti-Census Crowd with Falsehoods
    Bob Barr says—without evidence—the gubmint can force its way into your home when you’re not there” (CJR) By Ryan Chittum:

    http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/ajc_stirring_up_the_anticensus.php?page=all&print=true

    And yeah, another week, another NYT hit piece on someone who actually decides to fight back: Meet M.I.A. and her recordings of a devious and likely (not uncommonly) unethical Times reporter:

    observer.com/2010/media/more-mia-times-and-truffle-gate

    More noted here via the CJR too:
    cjr.org/behind_the_news/context_mia.php?page=1

    Yeah. Truffle Gate. Only Moral journalists need apply? Where oh where to find them? That’s the question. Top to bottom the lest examined but perhaps most corrupt aspect of our political culture. Hands down. JMP

  4. JMPrince Avatar

    Everyday I wake up and I hear it’s April Fool’s Day. All day. Everyday. Thanks for the notice. JMP

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