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February 17, 2005
Jeff Gannon, internet hero...
Frank Rich's column this Sunday in The New York Times considers the case of Jeff Gannon and what he means to the Bush administration's information machine. For me, Gannon raises this question: Who gets to be a reporter? (You'll note that I am not using the terms "journalist" or "journalism" here because I assert that the practices they indicate must include an independent editing process often lacking in the reporting efforts of citizens.)
Anyone who wants to be a reporter gets to be a reporter if they put in the minimum effort. You might not get to make a living at it, but all you have to do to be a legitimate reporter is report and publish. The internet--specifically weblogs--makes this easy and cheap (free in many cases!) to accomplish.
(The concept of legitimacy here is tricky. On the one hand, the citizen reporter finds legitimacy in citizenship. On the other hand, no one is obligated to speak to any reporter--especially those who are less than well connected.)
What does it mean to report? Reporting is the act of gathering and disseminating information (def.: statements about facts in the world). Simple as that. There's no requirement that reporting be thorough, accurate, contextual, unbiased, truthful, or fair.
There is nothing at all illegitimate about GOPUSA setting up an internet news organization (Talon News) and reporting the news. (They might even be practicing journalism if they operate with a recognizable editorial process.)
That the White House should approve a reporter from such a news organization for daily passes is not at all surprising. But that they approved Gannon/Guckert is. His background is, shall we say, problematic. I've been through the White House security procedure. There ain't no way he'd have been approved unless a very senior official wanted him approved.
I don't think the White House knew this guy was a problem. He was bought-and-paid-for ideologically, and that apparently was good enough. I have no problem with this.
The character Jeff Gannon may turn out to be an internet hero. Here's why: Reporting is a craft, not a licensed profession. That's as it should be in our democratic republic. Until now, you needed a job to be a reporter. You needed a so-called legitimate news organization to cover the highest offices of government. Today, all you need is a web site and the chutzpah to give it a go.
In a way, it's too bad about the whole gay porn thing. That's a red herring that keeps us from seeing what's important here. Let me enumerate it:
1. Citizens journalism has arrived and will only get bolder and stronger (re: changing noetic field).
2. A news organization is any collection of individuals who report and disseminate information.
3. Political factions have a right to operate news organizations (welcome to 1776).
4. Any presidential administration must make skilled use of the current (and changing) media paradigm.
...and...
5. As a result, we are drenched in free speech and drowning in propaganda.
Posted by acline at February 17, 2005 2:43 PM | | Spotlight