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"Congress shall make no law .... abridging freedom of speech ..."

It may be time to bring back tarring a feathering. San Francisco Supervisor Sophie Maxwell is he author of a proposed city ordinance that will be voted on tomorrow requiring local bloggers to register with the city Ethics Commission and report "all blog-related costs that exceed $1,000 in the aggregate," according to P2PNet.net

Personal Democracy Forum says blogs that receive more than 500 hits and that mention candidates for local office will be forced to pay a registration fee and will be subject to website traffic audits, according to Chad Jacobs, a San Francisco City Attorney.

Email Supervisor Maxwell or call her at (415) 554-7670 and point out that freedom of speech is protected by the Constitution.

Categories: Blog Bashing, Blogging and Moblogging, Commentary, Politics, Worst Practices

BL Ochman | Apr 4 05 12:00 | TrackBack (2)

Comments

This isn't about blogging at all, if you take to time to read the ordinance:
http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/committees/materials/041489.pdf

Posted by: Allan Jenkins at April 5, 2005 9:48 AM

It certainly is about blogs!

Note that newspapers and magazines are not included in the bill's definition (below) because they are considered journalistic outlets. Including Internet communications means blogs, forums, newsletters, and makes the hotly debated assumption that bloggers are not journalists.

"Electioneering Communication" shall mean any communication, including but not limited to any broadcast, cable, satellite, radio, internet or telephone communications, and any mailing, flyer, doorhanger, pamphlet, brochure, card, sign, billboard, facsimile, or printed advertisement that
A) refers to a clearly defined candidate for City elective office...."

Blogs like DailyKos and others carried huge amounts of political advertising during the election. I can understand asking online publications, including blogs, that carry political advertising to register as such IF newspapers and magazines have to do the same.

But many blogs (including this one) pointed to sites where contributions could be made to candidates. Many of us used our platform to endorse candidates, to encourage voting and other political actions. Asking us to register because we "refer to a clearly defined candidate" is abridging our freedom of speech.

Under this ordinance, bloggers would have to register but newspapers and magazines -- "real journalists" -- would not.

I say tar and feather Sophie Maxwell.

Posted by: B.L. Ochman at April 5, 2005 3:58 PM

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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference "Congress shall make no law .... abridging freedom of speech ...":

Too Lazy to Read: Bloggers Freak Over SF Ordinance from Desirable Roasted Coffee
Have you heard the latest meme sweeping the blogosphere? San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering an ordinance making all bloggers register with the City Ethics Commission? And charge bloggers $1000 if their blog mentions local candidates and ... [Read More]

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About BL Ochman

Blogger, social media strategy consultant to Fortune 500 companies, and sought-after corporate speaker B.L. Ochman heads the creative team of whatsnextonline.com. She also publishes the Ethics Crisis blog for SRF Global Translations

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