New York bloggers to be treated like journalists

Major changes are coming to the way New York City officials treat traditional journalists and bloggers, and this move is certain to lend more credibility than ever before to the Blogosphere. Until now, only journalists working for accredited news organizations enjoyed most media privileges in New York, such as the right to cross police barriers when reporting on stories and being issued press passes. But starting later this year, New York officials will begin offering press passes to any journalist based exclusively on his/her personal achievements, rather than affiliations with major print, television or online news organizations. What this means in practice, is that bloggers will be eligible for press passes and will be permitted to cross police barriers after they have reported on at least six events sponsored by New York City and published these online or in print.

Bloggers who attend the city’s press conferences, local parades or who report on emergencies that do not require the crossing of police lines will be eligible to apply for a two-year press pass. Additionally, bloggers and journalists with less experience reporting on events may be eligible for special, single-use press passes.

New York’s change of heart concerning bloggers has a lot do with the work of civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel. The prominent attorney led a lawsuit against NYC for not determining whether a journalist deserved a press pass based on his/her accomplishments, but rather on the company that he/she works for. Siegel argued that it was now high time for bloggers to receive the same treatment that newspaper or television journalists have long enjoyed.