http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/28/michigan-considers-law-license-journalists/If Obama-Kagan get their way, all politicsal speech by non-MSM outlets will be outlawed.
Now we know how they will know who is MSM and who isn't.
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A Michigan lawmaker wants to license reporters to ensure they’re credible and vet them for “good moral character.â€
Senator Bruce Patterson is introducing legislation that will regulate reporters much like the state does with hairdressers, auto mechanics and plumbers. Patterson, who also practices constitutional law, says that the general public is being overwhelmed by an increasing number of media outlets--traditional, online and citizen generated--and an even greater amount misinformation.
“Legitimate media sources are critically important to our government,†he said.
He told FoxNews.com that some reporters covering state politics don’t know what they’re talking about and they’re working for publications he’s never heard of, so he wants to install a process that’ll help him and the general public figure out which reporters to trust.
“We have to be able to get good information,†he said. “We have to be able to rely on the source and to understand the credentials of the source.â€
Critics say the proposed law will stem press freedoms and is bound to be politicized with disgruntles politicians going after reporters who don’t paint them in a positive light. They say that adding members of the so-called fourth estate to the list of government regulated occupations would likely be found unconstitutional.
“It’s misguided and it’s never going to fly,†said Kelly McBride, media ethics expert, the Poynter Institute. She is currently involved in a project examining the transformation of the journalism profession.
The bill was introduced on May 11 and has been referred to the state legislature’s Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform.
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