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Tag: Blogging

Roque: Bloggers enjoy same protection as journalists

Illustration from Universal McCann
Illustration from Universal McCann
The latest decision by a United States court on the case of blogger Crystal Cox does not say bloggers are journalists as bannered in the Atlantic.com

Lawyer Harry L. Roque’s analysis of the decision is more accurate: “Bloggers enjoy the same protection as journalists.”

Two weeks ago the Ninth Circuit ruled in the case of Obsidian Finance Group v. Crystal Cox that even though someone might not write for the “institutional press,” they’re entitled to all the protections the Constitution grants journalists.

Judge Andrew Hurwitz said, “the Court expressly noted that ‘we draw no distinction between the media respondents and’ a non-institutional respondent.’”

This is a reversal of December 2011 by a federal judge in Oregon, U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez who said Cox, who styled herself as “an investigative blogger,” was not a journalist and cannot claim the protections afforded to mainstream reporters and news outlets.

The case stemmed from the online articles by Cox against Obsidian Finance Group LLC. She reportedly called Obsidian lawyer Kevin Padrick a “thug and a thief” during the handling of bankruptcy proceedings by him and Obsidian Finance Group LLC.

During the trial, she was asked to name her sources and she sought protection in the Oregon’s shield law not compelling media to produce sources.

Behind the blogs

Today’s Sunday Inquirer is on Pinoy blogosphere. This blog together with my favorite blog, The Professional Heckler, were featured in Fe Zamora’s article,“Behind the Blogs.”

Heckling is a serious business best practiced only by professionals. Like Marcelo “Loi” Reyes Landicho, the man behind the irreverent Professional Heckler, who has been poking fun at politicians, celebrities and everyone else who gets in his line of fire.

Example is this blog posted one day in May 2010.

And the No.1 birthday message left on Sen. Mar Roxas’ answering machine…

“Hi Marrrrrrrrrr! This is Krissy! Gosh! It’s your birthday pala today! I almost forgot. Mabuti na lang, Tito Jojo Binay reminded me about it over dinner last night! Gosh, this is so embarrassing! Forgetful na talaga ang lola mo, pasensya na! Anyway, happy, happy birthday and I sincerely wish na ma-enjoy mo ang ‘yong pagiging ordinary citizen. Pakisabi kay Tita Koring, I miss her. Well, slight. Gosh! She won’t be Second Lady nga pala noh? How saaaaad! Bye, bye for now! I need to go. Oh my! Baby James, ano ba! ’Wag mong dilaan ’yang Villar bracelet. That’s dirty! Gosh this kid”