Commentary by TrueDialog.org's Founder, Carl Lindemann

November 17, 2007 - Free Speech at the Media Bloggers Association?

Yesterday's release of the investigative study All the Senator's Men? The Ethics in Advancing a Campaign's Story is already generating some interesting responses. New material has been forwarded to enhance the 20+ pages already posted. Of course, the usual attempts to deflect and distract are predictably pouring forth from paid partisans. Hopefully, those seriously interested in "the boundaries separating and connecting political blogging, journalism and public relations" will help foster a vital discussion and debate about ethics. Unfortunately, one key group may be sidelined at a prominent blogger group.

The investigative study focuses on the activities of Robert Cox  (note - link changed 12-27-07 to another external bio - the previous one on Participate.net is now dead. Also see his background here), the president and founder of the Media Bloggers Association, a group that provides "assistance designed to raise professional standards in the blogosphere." Two MBA board members, too, are front-and-center. All three were credentialed to blog from the "Scooter" Libby trial, a media event that gained the group national exposure for bringing credibility to the quasi-journalistic pursuit. 

All the Senator's Men? is the occasion for a discussion where participants are free to share different perspectives. As the press release states:

A favorable interpretation of these activities might see this as an example of gaining exposure for an important story overlooked by the “mainstream media.” Alternately, critics may conclude that this event shows bloggers engineering a springboard for a smear campaign.

However, MBA members may find expressing the critical view problematic. They are subject to the rules of that organization and failure to “portray the MBA in a positive light…may be grounds for disciplinary action including expulsion from the MBA.” (Update 12-27: this page is no longer directly accessible. However, it is available here)

Immediately after releasing the investigative study, I contacted Robert Cox and the leadership of the MBA asking that they set aside the policy so that those belonging to the group would not feel constrained in offering their views on this matter.  His reply:

It is ironic that the ethical issues raised in the study surround Cox's expression of concern for First Amendment rights and how bad company policies may infringe on them. To paraphrase his words,  "Rather than continue to avoid dealing with a bad policy, perhaps Cox will consider amending it instead."

I thought that, perhaps, this was like the old saw about the cobbler's kids going barefoot. I'm doubtful of that now, seeing Cox's response to bad policy when the shoe is on the other foot.

P.S. My interview with Cox for the study is available here.

***

All materials on this website are copyright © 2007 by TrueDialog.org. All rights reserved.