S.C. lawmaker proposes registry for journalists

State Rep. Mike Pitts, R-Laurens, filed a bill Tuesday in the S.C. House to establish a “responsible journalism registry” to be operated by the S.C. secretary of state.

That bill’s summary says the bill would “establish requirements for persons before working as a journalist for a media outlet and for media outlets before hiring a journalist.” The summary also includes registration fees, and sets fines and criminal penalties for violations.

A person seeking to register with the state as a journalist would have to submit a criminal record background check and “an affidavit from the media outlet attesting to the applicant’s journalistic competence.”

The proposed registry “is ridiculous and totally unconstitutional,” said Bill Rogers, executive director of the S.C. Press Association. The State newspaper is a member of the Press Association.

The government cannot require journalists to register, Rogers said, citing the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights, which ensures freedom of the press.​

Read more here: S.C. lawmaker proposes registry for journalists

What's good for the gun owner apparently isn't good for the slimeball journalist.

 

Let's concentrate on doing away with the registration and approval for exercising rights guaranteed by the 2nd rather than adding them for the ones guaranteed by the 1st...

Just sayin'

 

No sht.
I think this is more to highlight the idiocy and hypocrisy of the gun-grabbers and their media cheerleaders than a serious attempt to infringe upon the 1st Amendment.

 

....better yet! Remind those journalists, that every time there has ever been a gun registery, it has been followed by confiscations.
(Perhaps we could start a grass roots movement for "journalist confiscation")

 

confiscation is such a strong word. We should call it "harvesting". Anyone have any experience field dressing journalists? Butchering? Recipes?

 

Eatin' em ain't practical. Mud vein's too big. They're completely full of it!

 

Unless their greatest goal is to work for the empire. Snappy dressers...the babes really dig the uniforms. And Vader wasn't all bad right?

 

.."..these are not the guns you are looking for."

 

While there is a considerable amount to be said for what Pax Mentis said, I also like the idea of registering urinalists (I still can't figure out what is wrong with that word!) as I have worked for two newspapers and written for others freelance and know what they are like.

First off, the average urinalist does NOT believe in the Constitution for any one ELSE, just them. This would be a nice wake up call.

Two, if the gov't vetted them and controlled them, there will be absolutely NO change in what is laughingly called the evening "news" or "news" papers what so ever.

Three the average urinalist self-describes itself as a Demonrat/Communist/Socialistic/Green Party/or other leftist scum, as do most actors (they act like they want what is best for Amerika. You know, Arnold and Stallone with the gun fighter/shoot 'em up movies both want to ban guns for the "little people") and college/university profs. So they should (probably WILL) support more infringements on rights and the Constitution if presented right.

Four. If any of them DO wake up (HAHAHAHAHA! My sense of humor even gets me at times!) we will have willing allies (sort of) in the war on freedom in this country. Even if they are only useless idiots. Useful idiots? No I think I was right the first time.

 

In this case it is likely quite the contrary, rather smart and interesting proposal. There is no intent to actually pass this. Rather this is designed specifically for when the left wing throws a hissy fit, then their hipocracy over the Bill of Rights can be shoved right back into their face. Won't work long time nor for terminal cases of liberalism but might be of limited value for fence sitters. If nothing else it might make for a little good entertainment.

 

Given that you have such a high opinion of journalists....you'll just love watching the film "Spotlight" Sometimes the 4th estate does perform a superb public service: Even if the Catholic Church may beg to differ



The story behind the 'Spotlight' movie - The Boston Globe

I'll be happy to buy you a ticket.

 

Do they taste like chicken?

 

Don't insult the chicken.....

 

Never heard of the movie "Spotlight", but after reading about it in the link I will GLADLY let you buy me a ticket to see it! THANKS! For pointing the movie out and giving me a ticket! When do I get the money? Reminds me of the good old day (30 years ago) when "60 Minutes", a TV show, used to actually do investigating reporting, or reporting anything at all for that matter.

 

It also has the added advantage of wasting time and resources by legislators that could be better spent on projects that actually have some value for the residents of South Carolina. Maybe this bill will give the S.C. electorate the motivation needed to boot this



time wasting filbert out on his time wasting @$$.

Evidently some SC politicians (both Democrat and Republican) are just a mite too sensitive to claims published by The SC Post & Courier about the alleged misuse of public funds by politicians for personal purposes. Pitts appears to be no slouch at truffle-snouting in the public trough.

Investigation: Candidates enrich themselves with campaign cash, gifts, travel

just ask former SC State Rep Robert Ford (D-Charleston)


Via: Investigation: Candidates enrich themselves with campaign cash, gifts, travel

Adult toys? Really? Apparently so.

or Representative Alan Clemmons

Yep....good shootin' and good lootin'



I wonder if the SC Post & Courier would pass muster if Mike Pitts' bill in the unlikely event that Pitts' bill is passed? Possibly not.

And the Republican Party stands strongly for small government???? It seems the proposed SC department of journalist vetting seems like an enlargement of government....or am I just being too cynical??

 

I am whole heartedly behind registering the MainStream Media. That way well will know that they've been bought and paid for (or blackmailed) by:
Lobbyists
elected officials
corporations
and unelected bodies/entities that wield weight far beyond reason.

That way I can follow the militant media to get the real news.

 

Well...that kind of scrutiny works brilliantly for political campaign donations and undue political influence....

 

@chelloveck - from my own experience in a legislature, if all we did where tackle things that were meaningful and productive, the session would last about a week. The problem is that, rather than having part-time citizen-statesmen coming together during a specific time-frame to do the public's business then going back to their primary private sector roles, in many cases we have professional politicians trying to look like they are "doing something" year round.

 

Worse thing to ever happen to congress? Air-conditioning. Before that, they only met several months per year.