An Open Letter To The National Press Club
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An Open Letter To The National Press ClubSean-Paul Kelley San Antonio March 28
Members of The National Press Club,
We, the undersigned bloggers, are very concerned about how liberal political bloggers are being systematically under-represented and belittled in the mainstream media, academic settings and media forums. By being intentionally excluded away from these venues, we are effectively pushed out of the discourse of opinion-leaders. The result is that the conventional wisdom about blogging, politics and journalism, as it concerns liberal blogs, becomes a feedback loop framed by the Conservatives and their media allies.
- By Sean Paul in Media Criticism on Mon Mar 28th, 2005 at 01:59:15 PM PDT
Indeed, just a few weeks ago, The Brookings Institution hosted a panel that originally included no liberal political bloggers and yet while including numerous conservative political operatives in the event. We registered our protest and the Brookings Institution's response was simply to invite a few liberal political bloggers to attend, yet not sit on the panel, as we had originally insisted upon.
Today, however, we are faced with an entirely new situation that is more insult than misrepresentation. The discredited conservative media operative Jeff Gannon, nee Guckert has been invited to sit on a panel at the prestigious National Press Club to talk about the scandal surrounding his access to the White House and more generally, the similarities and differences between bloggers and journalists. Guckert's token liberal counterpart will be a gossip blogger and sex comedy blogger. While we have nothing but the greatest respect for Mr. Graff and Ms. Cox we believe that neither represents bloggers who write about hard-nosed politics. And as for Mr. Guckert, he isn't a blogger, he's barely a journalist, and not a single political blogger involved with the Gannon/Guckert scandal, or otherwise, has been invited to sit on the panel to counter Mr. Guckert's arguments.
Therefore, we the undersigned bloggers, respectfully but firmly insist that a serious political blogger such as John Aravosis, of Americablog.org be included on the panel to fairly and accurately represent our industry and us. Mr. Aravosis has agreed to our request that he serve on the panel as our representative and is available should such an invite be forthcoming.
This situation is simply unacceptable. We will push back against the growing bias and sloppiness we see in the mainstream media as it concerns serious political blogging. If we do not we will never achieve any semblance of balance in the media. If we do not, we abdicate our ability to tell our own side of the story. If we do not we leave it to others to define us and defame us.
Please call Julie Shue at the The National Press Club and politely insist that they include John Aravosis of Americablog.org at their event. Here are there numbers: 202-662-7500 or 202-662-7501 or email at tglad@press.org and info@npcpress.org.
Sincerely,
Sean-Paul Kelley, http://www.agonist.org DCMediagirl, http://www.dcmediagirl.com Ezra Klein, http://ezraklein.typepad.com Echidne of the snakes, http://www.echidneofthesnakes.blogspot.comAmanda Marcotte, http://www.pandagon.net Mark Karlin, Editor and Publisher, http://www.BuzzFlash.comMatt Stoller, http://bopnews.com Democratic Underground http://www.democraticunderground.com/Lindsay Beyerstein http://majikthise.typepad.comShakespeare's Sister, http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com and http://www.bigbrassblog.comBob Brigham, www.SwingStateProject.comDave Johnson, http://www.Seeingtheforest.comMatt Singer, http://www.leftinthewest.comKos, http://www.dailykos.comKari Chisholm, http://www.blueoregon.com Steve Gilliard, http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/Crooks and Liars, http://www.crooksandliars.com/Brian Baltahttp://balta.blogspot.comThat Colored Fellahttp://www.ThatColoredFellasweblog.bloghorn.comAnna Brosovic http://annatopia.com/blog.html skippy the bush kangaroo http://www.xnerg.blogspot.comDavid Neiwert Orcinus http://www.dneiwert.blogspot.comJulien 's List http://www.educatedeclectic.blogspot.com

but what I'm still trying to figure out (even though I like the letter) is why I can't put my name and blog address on there. Is this an elitist blogger thing? Do they not know of the clout I carry with all of my posse? Are they afraid that I will legitimize them in a way they are not ready for? Is blogging only for "them folk"? Am I too enebriated to find the right button? Inquisitive minds want to know.
Seriously, What's His Name from Americablog should be on that panel if they're going to allow Guckert (kind of sounds like what I do after a long Saturday night) that public forum.