DoJ subpoena guidelines for journalists

[David Akin]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-cypherpunks at cyberpass.net
> [mailto:owner-cypherpunks at cyberpass.net]On Behalf Of Sean Hastings
> Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 2:27 PM
> To: Declan McCullagh; cypherpunks at Algebra.COM
> Cc: cypherpunks at cyberpass.net
> Subject: RE: DoJ subpoena guidelines for journalists
>
>
> Declan,
>
> What are the qualifications one has to meet to be considered a "member of
> the news media"? Does one have to work for some sort of Registered news
> agency, or publish in a registered periodical? I am publishing this right
> now, but I probably don't qualify. Why not?

Declan, as you may know, has had a helluva time getting Official Washington
to recognize him and other online news outlets as 'real' media, worthy of
the same media treatment and access to officials given to traditional print
and broadcast reporters. There are no qualifications you need and, in the US
and Canada, no licensing bureau or anything like that (thank god). If you
want to report on something, you just show up, call yourself a reporter and
see what the guy at the door says. At places like the White House, they'll
want to see some proof that you work for an outlet that they recognize as
'real news'. The definition held by the White House gatekeepers is probably
pretty restrictive. Go to the local stamp club exhibition, say you're a
reporter, and they won't care if/when you've ever written something. They're
just glad to have the interest.

So bottom line: You can call yourself a reporter when you act like one. Some
people think you gotta act like Sam Donaldson; others think you can act like
Hunter S. Thompson. Better yet, more people think you can like Kevin Poulsen
. . .

David Akin / Senior technology reporter
National Post / http://www.nationalpost.com
300-1450 Don Mills Road, Don Mills, Ontario
CANADA / M3B 3R5
VOX: 416.383.2372 FAX: 416.383.2443
dakin at nationalpost.com / AIM: DavidAkin

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