LAist: Blogger Snubbed by City Public Information Officer

kchristieh

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:26:53 -0800

Wow - Brian's speedy response should put his department one step closer to winning that award! I can understand an agency's hesitance in treating bloggers like they treat other media. After all, anyone can start a blog and declare herself a blogger. There's no vetting process. I can also understand that if there's limited access to an event (e.g., a presidential candidate coming to town) they might need to limit the number of people who attend. Even so, I think that in most cases, it's better to err on the side of assuming that bloggers are yet one more way to get the word out, and give them the same access they do to other forms of media. After all, it is public information. Thanks for the thought-provoking post.

BrianHumphrey

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:50:51 -0800

Zach, Thanks for your kind words, but even more for highlighting an issue (and likely an event) that should cause us each to take pause. Please know that Los Angeles area bloggers are not alone in trying to better understand much less address the challenges (some contrived and some *very* real) that face those on both sides of the informational divide. While California has specific laws for enhanced media access, there is a reason for the generic title of PIO... because our first and middle names merely underscore that it is indeed PUBLIC INFORMATION. Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service, Brian Humphrey Firefighter/Specialist Public Service Officer * (an internal title for the PIO working in the bunker) Los Angeles Fire Department