A Dragon in Sheep’s Clothing

In regards to Inside Suffolk Virginia’s request to be added to the email list for press releases:

An editorial published Tuesday by the Suffolk News Herald says:

The bloggers claim they should be included on the list because they are part of the area’s media.

That claim is simply nonsense.

They go on to opine that bloggers, especially any that write anonymously, degrade the noble profession of journalism.

I could rant about how wrong they are to dismiss bloggers as reliable reporters and disseminators of news, but there are plenty of other people who are already tearing apart that argument. Apparently, there also were typos in the original release of the editorial, both in the print edition and online. Scott’s Morning Brew has documented this.

However, I would like to point back to the description of the Media and Community Relations department of the City of Suffolk to make the Herald’s editorial completely pointless:

We promote rapport and goodwill between the City and the community we serve through the interchange of ideas and the assessment of public opinion. In addition, we have the responsibility to seek public input and involvement in the affairs of City government and to establish effective two-way communications between the City and its constituents for everyone’s mutual benefit.

The argument that the Inside Suffolk Virginia blog should be added to the press release list is really not about who is or is not a legitimate media outlet. It’s about the transparency of the City (or lack thereof). I think it’s fairly obvious that Suffolk’s actions are completely contrary to this description.

The City is posting press releases on its website as they stated they would start doing. But that’s not really the point anymore, is it? (And incidentally, now that “anyone” can access the releases on the website, what’s the point of keeping the email list exclusive?)

Even if Suffolk wants to limit the press release list to “formal” media outlets, their actions following Scott’s FOIA request to receive the releases is amazing. Scott’s Morning Brew received releases from June 21 to July 30 by paying $15 to receive a CD containing the releases via regular mail. Wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier for the City to add them to the email list? Why waste all this effort unless they’re trying to make the bloggers stop asking? (Not to mention the fact that under FOIA, no fees are to be charged beyond the actual expense of copying the information requested. I, for one, would like to see the justification that it cost $15 to make a CD.)

I think I will stop here, even though the web designer in me is aggravated by the poor design of the City’s website. That’s another topic altogether.