REPORTERS, MEDIA OUTLETS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REGISTER
S.C. Rep. Mike Pitts wants to create a registry of journalists within the Palmetto State – and then establish requirements for them (and their employers).
Wait … what?
Isn’t the Fourth Estate – however it manifests itself – supposed to exist independent of government influence?
Anyway, Pitts’ bill – dubbed the “South Carolina Responsible Journalism Registry Law” – would establish a statewide list of media contacts as well as certain requirements for individuals “before (they begin) working as a journalist” and for media outlets “before hiring a journalist.”
Among those requirements? Background checks … (which the editor of this website would obviously not pass).
Oh, and reporters and their employers would be required to register with the S.C. Secretary of State’s office – and pay a registration fee (along with fines if they fail to do so). Additional details of the legislation – which was referred to the S.C. House committee on labor, commerce and industry this week – were not immediately available, but on its face this law sounds all sorts of absurd.
What is Pitts thinking? The proposed law appeared to be a shot across the bow of unconventional news outlets like this one.
In fact that’s exactly how our readers were taking it.
“What did you do (to) Mike Pitts?” one source wrote to us.
Actually, nothing … at least nothing we know of.
Last time we checked, this website enjoyed a good relationship with Pitts. In fact we have featured his work from time to time as a guest columnist.
We reached out to Pitts’ supporters about the bill, and they told us it was “more of a pushback statement against MSM outlets who constantly demonize gun owners, people who sell guns, and gun manufacturers.”
“It is more or less aimed at (the big newspapers) and their cohorts,” one Pitts ally said. “(He) doesn’t expect it to pass, but filed the bill as more of a statement.”
Interesting …
Whatever Pitts’ motivation is in proposing this legislation, we don’t support it. Government is already far too engaged in “regulating” business – and the regulation of the journalism business strikes us as one step removed from censorship.
We like Pitts – and will continue to support him when he rolls out sensible legislation – but this is one bill we can’t get behind.
35 comments
There is only one thing worst than a biased journalist, and there are many of them, and that is a group of dumb-ass lawmakers trying to regulate and control them.
It is a lousy idea on behalf of the lawmakers, about as lousy as some reporting in this state. It all evens out.
“….this is one bill we can’t get behind….”
Looks like Cockroach Pitts is behind you and is cooing in your ear hump you, hump you, hump you
What an idiot. That’s got to be the dumbest non-reason for a Kremlin like law I’ve ever heard.
Since I had a totally failed blog, would I have to register?
Another limited government Republican.
Those poor guns. How can they defend themselves from the press?
That’s a chicken shit idea. The ONLY purpose is to target journalists/reporters/publishers for control/manipulation/taxes & fees. If it is enacted Shifty will sign in and post an editorial joke (with REAL names) somewhere every day of the week. (hmmmm, it could fe bun!)
I say if Reporters have to register, so should prostitutes. Did I just say that? Sorry prostitutes.
Ha! You just reminded me of the live radio report by G. Gordon Liddy about the newly enacted registration law for prostitutes. Perhaps some of you are familiar with it. He had a radio talk show and one of his assistants handed him the news flash which he immediately read over the air.
Quotes
Obviously crime pays, or there’d be no crime.
A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
They were afraid, never having learned what I taught myself: Defeat the fear of death and welcome the death of fear.
-G. Gordon Liddy
Liddy was a character to be sure. Makes me think of the Dos XX “world’s most interesting man” guy. Bought one of his cigar deals one time.
Now that makes me think we could have a commercial of Most Intersting Man in the World cigars, and the most interesting person is – Bill Clinton.
I’m allergic to fish.
You apologize! That’s disrespectful to prostitutes everywhere…
I’m sorry. Jouralists always tell a portion of the story, but with prostitutes, $150 an hour and you get the full story.
Awsome just vote R. It works in SC.
Can’t wait to hear a certain someone pine on this idea.
Apparently, according to Rep. Pitts its a protest against the CWP laws and a gun registration law. At least thats what he said in the Post and Courier
Pro gun or not, what a stupid waste of time. Same as Mia McLeod’s wasteful “statements”. Why don’t they spend that time figuring out ways to get the most out of our resources?
We are (personally) getting the most from your resources.
Trust us.
Sounds like this dude is trying to out-dumbass Lee Bright.
When I first saw this I was outraged. After pondering it, if they include standards which must be met to be a journalist, such as basic literacy, it might not be so bad. Can you imagine how that would impact stations such as WIS, requiring literacy?
Hmmm, if commentators on blog sites are tagged as “journalists” then they can refuse to reveal their network of ‘moles and rats’ ..??
Rumor has it that Joseph Goebbels may return from the dead to head up this registry.
REGISTER JOURNALISTS, NOT GUNS
Bumper Sticker
At first I thought it was to be a listing of responsible journalists. I figured that would be a pretty easy compilation.
Uh oh, who’s more concerned… you or Brad Warthen (who weekly reminds his readers that he was an editor who was fired from The State).
Conservative genius at work? The old…careful what you ask for..routine.
Except the difference is journalists don’t kill 30,000 Americans a year and constitute a public health problem. The constitution (backed up by successive supreme court actions) has preserved journalism enshrinement largely free of gov’t intrusion.
While the supremes have repeatedly ruled the 2nd Amendment to be sacrosanct…I’m not yet aware of any rulings they’ve made as to the constitutionality of a registry.
Once the Supremes strike down a registry….then let’s talk.
Really? I contend that journalists who twist every shooting story into a reason to demonize gun ownership are in large part the reason why so many people are killed by criminals with guns. If gun ownership was looked on more as something that is expected then a criminal would have to think twice about pulling a gun on someone. Chicago is clearly the poster child for where strict gun laws will get you with so many people being killed every day. This is due in large part by journalists pushing for anti gun legislation and weak minded politicians who go along with it.
why would anyone who even suggests such douchebag legislation ever get support from anyone?? ever?
That picture of Will is cute. I didn’t realize he had such an early start in “journalism.
Yep! And now he has progressed to publishing items like these:
Copy editor 1: “That doesn’t look like 9
inches.” Copy editor 2: “It never does.”
Weekend reporter: “Anyone know of something
I can cover live on Sunday?” News Editor: “My hangover.”
Editor: “Are hawks a ‘which’ or a
‘who’?” Second editor: “Owls would be a ‘who.'”
News Director: “Are you on drugs?”
Reporter: “You and I both know I don’t make enough money to have a drug problem.”
A woman telephoned her local newspaper to let them know that she had just given birth to eighteen children. The reporter didn’t quite hear the message and said, “Would you repeat that?” “Not if I can help it,” replied the woman.
Ha! I used to sell newspapers on the street and also GRIT newspapers door-to-door. My Dad was for anything that would keep me busy and also earn a few pennies along with it. I was never afraid to take on anything new even if was considered menial or demeaning. That excludes, of course, anything that might make me bleed……
A car was involved in an accident in a street. As expected a large crowd gathered. A newspaper reporter, anxious to get his story could not get near the car. Being a clever sort, he started shouting loudly, “Let me through! Let me through! I am the son of the victim.”
The crowd made way for him. Lying in front of the car was a donkey.
A man who follows every South Carolina political story walks into the hospital and tells the desk nurse, “I want to see the eye-ear doctor.” “There is no such doctor” she tells him. “Perhaps you would like to see someone else?”
“No, I need to see an eye-ear doctor,” he says. “But there is no such doctor,” she replies. “We have doctors for the eyes and doctors for the ear, nose and throat, but no eye-ear doctor.”
They go around like this for a few minutes and then the nurse says: “Sir, there is no eye-ear doctor, but if there were one, why would you want to see him?”
“Because,” he replies, “I keep hearing one thing and seeing another.”
Wonder who’s really behind this.