Michigan Votes Forum

This appears to be a totally useless waste of legislators' time! Lets STOP with the constant, continuous regulation/certification of everything! Ths is meant to be exclusionary-that's the only reason for it. I though you people had more to do!

Throw this bill in the trash bin, where it belongs.

It clearly is an effort to impose "regulation" on those who gather and report the news.  That, if I am not mistaken, flies in the face of First Amendment (U.S. Constitution) prohibitions against government interferience with freedom of the press.

 This bill is a total waste of time and money for Michigan.  Throw it out.  Stop trying to regulate the citizen.  That is not your job.  You took an oath to protect the citizens and the consititution, not to see how many controls you can put on the people.

I just posted th following comment to the Heritage Newspapers on-line site:

This legislation  is extremely worrysome: Senate Bill 1323 - "Establish “Michigan Registered Reporter" registration and screening criteria."The public synopsis of this bill says:" . . to create a government “Board of Michigan Registered Reporters” to pass on the qualifications under criteria established in the bill for an individual who seeks to use the title “Michigan Registered Reporter.” An individual who writes or creates news stories, commentaries or editorials for a newspaper, online news outlet or radio or TV broadcaster, and who wants to use this title, would have to have a journalism degree, at least three years experience as a reporter, submit writing samples, present evidence of awards or recognitions and a letter of recognition from a reporter who is “registered,” and pay a $10 fee. A person sing a generic label such as “reporter,” “broadcaster,” “member of the media,” or others would not have to register. The bill would not require any institution to discriminate on the basis of having this credential, nor would it prohibit this."

On the face of it, this legislation wopuld simply add yet another level of registration/certification to an as-yet much-unregulated field. However, since government NEVER manages to do anything without severe 'mission-creep', this could easily become a way to assure only the select few ever make it into print. "May have" quickly becomes "must have" and eventually becomes "must not without certification". Obviously, ANY regulation or certification can easily be used by an unscrupulous government, administration or certifying agency to force approved uniformity and 'acceptable' compliance on those licensed.

We can assume newspapers have selection annd hiring criteria that have served them well ever since Horace Greeley. And we've all seen high numbers of graduates with journalism degrees who can neither write nor maintain even a modicum of ethical standards. A degree means little in this field other than they were afforded the very expensive benefit of higher education. With that higher education usually comes a set of political and social beliefs and a world-view that serves to limit differing perspectives. This most certainly does NOT benefit the wide range of prospective readers. It also tends by its very nature to be discriminatory against minorities who often are not afforded the financial means to attain a degree. As written, this bill looks on the surface as a half-hearted slap at the First Amendment. As an American, I have a strong belief in the power of free speech and attendant free flow of ideas  and information. I greatly appreciate the growing methods by which ordinary people are allowed to express themselves and believe we have an electorate that is much more involved and much more aware of the issues because of it. This legislation is mis-guided at best and very dangerous at worst. The bill should be withdrawn immediately!

Sen Patterson, what were you thinking???

llspier, I agree with most of what you say, but do take serious exception to this statement:

llspier:

...  A degree means little in this field other than they were afforded the very expensive benefit of higher education. With that higher education usually comes a set of political and social beliefs and a world-view that serves to limit differing perspectives. ...

In fact, a quality higher education regimen does broaden perspectives by exposing students to a wide range of ideas, philosophies and factual material, which they are expected and even required to examine critically.  Because this results in world views that differ from yours -- or those held by vocal members of the general public or political class -- does not at all mean that perspectives are narrowed.  What it really may mean is that educated people are able to dissect and analyze matters, and come to their own conclusions rather than those directed by others.

That said, I also believe far too few modern day journalists come to the news business having good range of more common "life" experiences.  The push these days is to get media experience through summer jobs, internships, etc..  In one respect that is a good thing, because it helps develop pertinent skills through real life application.  But in another, it means that aspiring media people do not gain the experience of flipping burgers, working as chambermaids, laboring on construction projects, doing warehousing or office work, and the like, which allows them opportunity to develop empathy with ordinary working people.  This unfortunately translates to a lot of journalism that fails to report what ordinary folks affected by the day's events and stories really want or need to know about them.  It is more a social and business phenomenon than it is an educational one.

 Well this is silly.  What Michigan needs is a "Michigan Registered Hignite" license scheme.

"The governor will establish Mike Hignite as a board of review to determine qualifications of a "Michigan Registered Hignite".

A "Michigan Registered Hignite" will need to document via birth certificate, picture with another "Michigan Registered Hignite", or other suitable proof, his or her qualifications to be a "Michigan Registered HIgnite". 

A fee of $10 or two "University of Michigan Football tickets" must be submitted to the board of review along with the official board-approved application.  Two years of experience of practice being a "Michigan Registered Hignite" must be obtained before an application can be filed.  Once approved, the "Michigan Registered Hignite" is entitled to all benefits as any other "Michigan Registered Hignite."

The "Michigan Registered Hignite" license may be renewed every two years.  The board may revoke the license of a "Michigan Registered Hignite" for conduct unbecoming to a "Michigan Registered Hignite", at the boards sole discretion.

Anyone not holding a "Michigan Registered Hignite" license may hold themselves out to be a "Michigan Registered Hignite" under penalty of the board's extreme displeasure. And no one wants that, do they?"

I personally don't see what the issue is.  Wouldn't you rather know that you are getting your information from a reliable source instead of someone else? It is only a title.  “Michigan Registered Reporter.”, just provides clarification on who the state feels is educated and reputable.  It is no different than having a teaching license that is recognized by the state. There is a huge difference between someone who teaches bible school and someone who teaches high school physics.  Just as there is a huge difference between someone who has been trained and educated to write or report high interest news versus someone who has only written for their high school newspaper.

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