Commentary by TrueDialog.org's Founder, Carl Lindemann

December 27, 2007 - Catching up on an Eventful Year, Looking Ahead

There has been much happening here on many fronts. Unfortunately, I've been more engaged in hands-on work (especially with the Ethics Commission) than writing about it. There's something of a New Year's resolution here to remedy this... 

First, as far as the Media Bloggers Association, I will have much to say about the response to the investigative report issued last month. Here's one telling detail - since the investigative study came out, the MBA has removed the Senator Susan Collins campaign operative's contact information from its website. Fortunately, the purged listing still appears in Google's cache. Also, the membership page featuring the prohibition against speaking critically (that is, freely) about the organization has moved and apparently cannot be accessed without registering. Here's a shortcut to regain direct access. 

Highlights of what's ahead include comments from James Joyner, part of the MBA's leadership in creating its ethics guidelines. He has offered an intriguing view on the ethics examined in TrueDialog.org's investigative study about the group. Apparently, he believes it's OK for political operatives promoting stories to grease the palms of their media contacts. He also has what appear to be novel ideas about what's appropriate as far as granting anonymity for sources. 

Meanwhile in Maine, 2008 will see the Maine Legislature weighing in on reforming the state's Ethics Commission. This is, in part, a response to TrueDialog.org's exposing the former Commission Chair Ginn Marvin's failure to disclose a key relationship as well as raising issues about her conduct and qualifications to serve. You can be sure there will be much to discuss about this.

Until then, best wishes for '08!

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