Should police be able to decide who is or is not a Journalist?

[msc545]

https://truthout.org/articles/if-the-police-can-decide-who-qualifies-as-a-journalist-there-is-no-free-press/?utm_source=Truthout&utm_campaign=f83556b258-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_3_20_2023_13_41_COPY_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bbb541a1db-f83556b258-650196637&mc_cid=f83556b258&mc_eid=0a224ea76f

Updates

+1 y

If the Police Can Decide Who Qualifies as a Journalist, There Is No Free Press

[msmissydc]

I agree! Police should be the last or second to last to decide who is and isn't a Journalist. In Germany there is an Independent organization who can give you access to a journalist pass which gives you special privileges but that isn't necessary to be a journalist. With this I can literally show them I AM a journalist if they would ask, and they can't do anything against it. (well nothing legal at least)

Note: these privileges doesn't free me from the law obviously!

Also as it should be, this journalist pass is actually quite easy to get, IF you are a journalist. You just need a few Publishings or income from journalism to show. It doesn't MAKE you a journalist, you are one before that, its just an easy way to show why you are at some places or why you want some information without being suspicious. Also it gives you access to some people, who are not going to speak with anyone, maybe because its not their job to spread information, but to work with this information. Sometimes it also replaces a month long procedure including specific forms, with just a formless application that gets me a reply in a week.

[OfMiceandMen]

I can see the flip side of this. I understand everyone one wants freedom of the press etc, however, I think the police have to be able to exercise some discretion as there are certain unreputable/sick people out there that attend accidents, shootings, etc. because they get off on peoples pain. Some just want to be assholes and tie up the cops during an investigation with stupid questions because they have a hate on for them. If the person claims to be press, but is not affiliated with any media outlet, blog or network, then I think its about keeping traffic down to a minimum at crime scenes.

I know if it were my friend or family member, I wouldn't want just anyone claiming to be journalist on-site.

[BoopBoopBeep]

It's on the cop to walk away. Every sick a-hole out there has the constitutional right to ask all the questions he wants. And that's coming from someone with a badge in his pocket.

[OfMiceandMen]

@BoopBoopBeep I agree, the cop has to be the bigger person... every time! They can't let emotion affect their judgment, which has to be really tough sometimes.

[BoopBoopBeep]

If you're going to get emotional on every case, every decision, you're going to burn out, get an ulcer, or suck at your job and miss facts. No room for that with a badge.

[OfMiceandMen]

@BoopBoopBeep I would imagine so, thanks for the personal insight. It's nice to hear from someone with actual experience. 👌

[Soteris]

Ha! No. The police should basically not decide anything, their job is not to make decisions in a modern society. That power has been taken from them and handed to things like the justice system.

[msc545]

In theory, es, but we have allowed police to make all kinds of decisions they should not make.

[Soteris]

And that did not work out particularly well now did it?

[msc545]

obviously not.

[BoopBoopBeep]

That is THE last thing a cop should be deciding. They should be focused on whatever crime they are working not who they are getting coverage from. Everyone is press because everyone has a phone in their pocket. The Arab Spring was broken because of cell phones and Twitter and if whatever cop is too "bothered" by somebody asking questions, even if they ARE "just some sick a-hole" then they need to find a job they don't suck at.

That's coming from someone with one badge in his pocket and another retired one on my wall. Don't let anybody ever tell you that you're not press.

[slatyb]

Absolutely not. "If the Police Can Decide Who Qualifies as a Journalist, There Is No Free Press" is true. Fortunately, in the US the Police do not have that power. The hosts of private events do have the right to decide who to admit. The government does not get to decide who is allowed to witness and report on government actions.

[RealMarek]

If you’re a member of the control-freak managerial neoliberal elite, then of course. If you want a free press, anyone should be able to claim the title of journalist.

[WindAtMyBack]

I only glanced at that article, but I don't understand what the problem is. I don't see how being a journalist makes any difference. Why do the police need to decide if someone is a journalist or not?

[exitseven]

No, Biden has his own secret police that routinely with the IRS go after journalists that do not go along with all the lies the democrats tell the American people. If they were explicitly allowed to do this Americans would not even have the little amount of free press that they have now.

[msc545]

Stop with the paranoid bullshit.

[exitseven]

Just ask Matt Taibbi.

[msc545]

you must be joking. I hope you are.

[exitseven]

Matt Taibbi the journalist who has been harassed by the IRS. Does any of this sound familiar?

[msc545]

lots of people have had bad interactions with the IRS. That does not imply "secret police".

[exitseven]

When the IRS happens to turn up at your front door a few days after you report on something unfavorable to the Biden regime it sounds a little fishy to me. For one thing, as a rule they do not show up at your house.

[msc545]

They do that spontaneously. Besides, correlation is not causation.

[exitseven]

Yeah, they all pile in a car and drive over to your house because they think you cheated on your taxes. That would never happen unless Biden was trying to send him a message.

[msc545]

Ok, sorry, but that is a really bizarre and unwarranted conclusion.

[richardcory]

Its not something the police should decide, but there should be some agreed-upon definition.

[Anonymous]

Ha, lefties would have the biggest melt down humantity has ever seen.

[Justneedtokno]

Nope that just sounds like corruption already