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Should you need a license to be a journalist?

Should you need a license to be a journalist?

  • Total voters
    62
No, first I believe in free spech and second I don't think the government should have so much power over the media.
 
pro-bipartisan said:
No, first I believe in free spech and second I don't think the government should have so much power over the media.
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Great points - the government already has influence over the media and we see what that such influence relieves the media from asking tough questions or holding government to task on their actions. It happened in 2001 with Iraq, it's happening now with Obama's Presidency. Imagine what it would be if government now stamps journalists for approval...
 
O_Guru said:
I voted yes BUT because I have certain ideas in mind.

Of course I don’t want to hinder free speech in anyway what so ever but there are places I have concerns.

Anybody that wants to write their opinion should be free to do so I have no problem with that. The opinion may be accurate it may not be they might not have a clue what they are talking about and that’s fine. Smart people understand the difference ad yes unfortunately there will always be sheep out there that believe what ever and drink the Kool-Aid. So be it I’m not going to sacrifice free speech for those tools.

anyway on to my point and correct me if I’m wrong some journalist are given access to information and locations that others aren’t allowed now of course some of the info they still cant use cause it is protected one way or another BUT they are still given access to this info and certain locations. Based on that alone YES a certain type of licenses should be needed to those types of journalist. Now if you just sit behind a desk and write say something like cooking reviews then no of course not but I do think some should need those license or NOT be granted special privileges a normal citizen wouldn't have.
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I will never support a government controlled and regulated "journalistic license" of any kind.

Now, a private accreditation agency, issuing licenses/certificates to journalists who meet their standards…that’s a whole different story.
 
I don't care what the reasoning is behind this regulation, my answer is NO.

Needing a license to be a journalist is one step away from needing a license to write your opinion. If Michigan passes that law it will get shot down by SCOTUS, or at least it should.

As for equating to 2nd amendment violations, I disagree; when covering the news can kill people, then I might reconsider that view.
 
Orion said:
I don't care what the reasoning is behind this regulation, my answer is NO.

Needing a license to be a journalist is one step away from needing a license to write your opinion. If Michigan passes that law it will get shot down by SCOTUS, or at least it should.

As for equating to 2nd amendment violations, I disagree; when covering the news can kill people, then I might reconsider that view.
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The news has always had the ability to kill people. Technological advances only give it more potential for such.

It's just like firearms - in the wrong hands, used incorrectly, it can be deadly.

Although, the news obviously has less potential to cause death/harm.
 
No. In no way should the government have the power to limit free speech to those they judge to have "good moral character".

The potential for abuse is much too great and what may pass for good moral character is actually a reporter who would write favorably of the politicians involved in vetting "good moral character" and which reporters the general public should "trust". I'll make up my own mind, thank you.
 
I voted no but in some high risk events, a press pass should be required.
 
The Mark said:
The news has always had the ability to kill people. Technological advances only give it more potential for such.

It's just like firearms - in the wrong hands, used incorrectly, it can be deadly.

Although, the news obviously has less potential to cause death/harm.
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Can you give an example of how the news has the ability to kill people?
 
The Mark said:
I will never support a government controlled and regulated "journalistic license" of any kind.

Now, a private accreditation agency, issuing licenses/certificates to journalists who meet their standards…that’s a whole different story.
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LOL whatever I call that tomato "twomato"

any fear of corruption/conspiracies over the government doing it can be equal to any corporation doing it
 
O_Guru said:
LOL whatever I call that tomato "twomato"

any fear of corruption/conspiracies over the government doing it can be equal to any corporation doing it
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That's why their shouldn't be any type of license of this sort at all.
 
No there shouldn't be a LAW that requires journalists to obtain a license. Although it would be nice to see new stations themselves require their journalists to not suck. Yeah I am talking about those stupid 24 hour news stations.
 
Orion said:
Can you give an example of how the news has the ability to kill people?
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that easy, remember how haroldo was kicked out for giving away the position of troops? that could have easily got people killed
that wife was killed when she decided to do a live intervew, husband saw where she was, showed up and shot her died

news can EASILY kill people but i dont think that mattered to my answer
 
Your Star said:
That's why their shouldn't be any type of license of this sort at all.
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lke i said im fine with the license if its about checking your back ground because you have "access" to information and locations that normal citizens wouldnt I am not for the liscense just to have one to control freedom of speech.
 
O_Guru said:
that easy, remember how haroldo was kicked out for giving away the position of troops? that could have easily got people killed
that wife was killed when she decided to do a live intervew, husband saw where she was, showed up and shot her died

news can EASILY kill people but i dont think that mattered to my answer
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That's just silly.

You are blaming the news for the choices of others?

If the military wants something to remain top secret, then it shouldn't be let out. If people want to murder over what happens on the news, then that is their responsibility.
 
O_Guru said:
lke i said im fine with the license if its about checking your back ground because you have "access" to information and locations that normal citizens wouldnt I am not for the liscense just to have one to control freedom of speech.
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Thats already regulated in a sense. I as a normal citizen can't go up, and ask to have journalist access to a white house presser, I would be laughed at and turned away. You have to have a press pass from a major news source, such as a news station, newspaper, magazine. It's not like anybody with a blog can get access to information that would require a press pass.
 
Your Star said:
Thats already regulated in a sense. I as a normal citizen can't go up, and ask to have journalist access to a white house presser, I would be laughed at and turned away. You have to have a press pass from a major news source, such as a news station, newspaper, magazine. It's not like anybody with a blog can get access to information that would require a press pass.
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I understand that but what is required to get a press pass? Im sure some places are tighter than others but ive been given a "press pass" from my friend that works at a radio station to gain access backstage to an event.

Just saying it should be regulated in some matter but NOT regulated in a manner that interferes with free speech
 
Orion said:
That's just silly.

You are blaming the news for the choices of others?

If the military wants something to remain top secret, then it shouldn't be let out. If people want to murder over what happens on the news, then that is their responsibility.
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LMAO
no YOU are being silly you asked a question i answered just because you dont like the answer doesnt mean its not true

you didnt ask if the news has any ablity to and the answer is factually YES but like i said that has nothing to do with my answer to the poll
 
O_Guru said:
I understand that but what is required to get a press pass? Im sure some places are tighter than others but ive been given a "press pass" from my friend that works at a radio station to gain access backstage to an event.

Just saying it should be regulated in some matter but NOT regulated in a manner that interferes with free speech
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It's what we have to live with as a free speech country. Though I'm assuming a press pass to a concert is a hell of a lot easier to get than a press pass to the Pentagon.
 
"Regulated in some manner"....elaborate, please.
 
Your Star said:
It's what we have to live with as a free speech country. Though I'm assuming a press pass to a concert is a hell of a lot easier to get than a press pass to the Pentagon.
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of course but that doesnt change that it should be regulated in some manner just not in the manner of infringing on free speech ;)
 
O_Guru said:
of course but that doesnt change that it should be regulated in some manner just not in the manner of infringing on free speech ;)
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I don't think you can do that. It's just something we have to live with as a free speech country. It's ultimately for the best.
 
O_Guru said:
no YOU are being silly you asked a question i answered just because you dont like the answer doesnt mean its not true.
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I didn't say it's silly because I didn't like your answer; I said it's silly because it is silly.

O_Guru said:
you didnt ask if the news has any ablity to and the answer is factually YES but like i said that has nothing to do with my answer to the poll
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You can motivate people with words to commit certain actions, but ultimately the responsibility of those actions rests with the people who commit them. If I persuade you to murder someone, you will be the one who gets charged with murder, not me. I wouldn't even be an accessory unless I helped you do it.

I see no reason to blame the news for doing its job. Journalism is supposed to be intrusive and answer-seeking. If the government or military don't want journalists reporting the facts, then they will do what they can to prevent access, as we are seeing in Iraq and Afghanistan with the control of the media. They learned from Vietnam what televised wars can do.

Licensing is only a method of censorship. i.e. you can't publish stories unless you are registered by the state. And who controls the registration process? The State. And who decides the criteria for registration? The State. It's an infringement on the First Amendment.
 
I dont know what the manner should be, one more aligned with checking your background like that of a goverment job like a SF 86 but NOT in a manner of infringin on free speech.
 
O_Guru said:
I dont know what the manner should be, one more aligned with checking your background like that of a goverment job like a SF 86 but NOT in a manner of infringin on free speech.
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The proposed law would necessarily infringe upon free speech, because if you aren't a licensed journalist then creating your own newsletter with your news stories would be against the law.

Anyone should be allowed to publish news. That's freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

I frankly don't know why you support this kind of ridiculous legislation.
 
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