Papers please Credentialing reporters in state government. Mark Binker, Greensboro News & Record // VP Capitolbeat
What you asked Credentialing Bloggers More than 65,000 people in the media industry lost their jobs in 2008, casualties of the recession that began near the end of 2007. In December 2008 alone, 18,000 jobs were shed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In many states, a new crop of social journalists are sprouting up to replace traditional journalists. To give new media a seat at the table, many states have or are looking at re-writing media credentialing policies. Find out from fellow journalists and media relations experts if this is worth doing and how to go about writing new policy.
Are these the right questions?
My name is Mark, and I m a blogger. I also write for a newspaper, do some (unpaid) TV appearances and write content exclusively for online. Does the fact that I blog (and tweet) make me any less of a journalist?
Would you credential a wrench? Asking whether you should credential a someone who writes for a blog (or other specific content delivery platform) is a bit like asking whether you should have your car fixed by someone who works with a wrench. The answer can be yes or no depending on how it is used and who is using it. Mechanics use wrenches. So can blood thirsty murderers. It helps to be able to tell one from the other.
Blog vs Blog
So what are the right questions? What does a press credential get you? Who do they work for? Where do those people get their money? What do they publish? Is publishing all they do?
What does a press credential get someone? The answer may be nothing. If that s the case, why bother credentialing at all? You only need to bother with press credentials if there are some limited resources to which you need to restrict access such as: Desk space Gallery seating Access to the legislative building after hours Seating in committee rooms Access to the House or Senate floor
Who are your gatekeepers? Press corps / association: In NC and some other states, the local press corps has the job of vetting who qualifies as a journalist. This has the upside of taking day-to-day decisions out of your hands. Police: If, on the other hand, credentials grant access to sensitive areas, you may want someone with a security background to play a role in granting credentials. Press secretaries: Yes, they deal with the press. But delegating press credentialing to agents of partisan politicians is a fraught prospect.
Under NC s system*, the press corps can grant passes that give access to workspace or the floor observation area. However, to gain access to the building or a parking space, reporters must go through the legislative police. Congress has a similar, if much more sophisticated, hybrid system. *The word system is being used a little loosely here. Things have evolved over time rather than by any malice of forethought or planning.
What s in it for you? An informed public Access to reporters Decorum and chaos avoidance
Any good credentialing system should: Be as open and least restrictive as possible. Give consideration to what people need in order to get their job done (on deadline). Ensure safety and security of legislative members and staff without using the writ of law to shield officials from questions.
Good credentialing systems cont Multiple tiers accommodate people who have various needs or report with varying degrees of frequency. Platform equality: Provide for the needs of television, print reporters and online journalists like. Content blind: Those who get credentials should not be under threat for what they write or broadcast.
So is it a duck? You know the old saw about walking like a duck and talking like a duck? If someone acts like a reporter and writes like a reporter, does that make them a reporter?
Things that may rule someone in: They work for a general circulation publication that makes their money from ads or subscriptions. This can apply to websites. They work for a broadcast or cable outlet that makes money from advertising. Publishing or broadcasting is the only thing they do. People who sell their work to such entities, such as freelancers and wire services.
QUESTIONS If someone doesn t make money through their writing should that rule them out? (I would say no.) If someone expresses an opinion, does that rule them out. (Editorial writers and columnists across the country would say no.) If someone meets all other criteria but only publishes online should that rule them out. (You should know the answer by now.)
So what rules someone out? Security concerns or inappropriate behavior Values of your credentialing agent (press corps) Conflicts of interest
Journalism-based evaluators that might exclude someone: Is the publication in question a house organ for a party or other group such as an employees union or advocacy organization? Are they a politician? Do people who write for the publication lobby or draw their paychecks from the same people who do? Can anyone get the publication for a price or is it members only?
Nonprofit Journalism Orgs Just because a publisher is a not-for-profit should not exclude them from doing their job. You may want to ask questions that help sort out truly independent nonprofits from sock puppets.
Resources Rules governing the daily press galleries in Congress: http://www.senate.gov/galleries/daily/accre d2.htm Stateline story re: blogs: http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?c ontentid=473783
Questions?