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That so called "liberal media" presents convention coverage from the Associated Press, whose chief political reporter, Ron Fournier, is email friends with Karl Rove (remember their exchange about Pat Tillman's death?) and nearly took a job with the John McCain campaign. Of course now he's offering McCain spin while getting paid by AP.
There's a reason why AP is losing newspapers. There are better alternatives for straight-up news, including Reuters and McClatchy. But AP is becoming the Faux News of wire services.
AP doesn't welcome blog links. Until they agree to play fair, it's time to boycott all AP stories no matter what paper they appear at.
Fair use is still the law of the land and there are plenty of news sources that readily welcome the extra traffic and google page rank boost that comes from inbound links.
(Sorry, Lawrence Messina... maybe as a blogger, you can help, um, educate your corporate offices on how short-sighted their latest intimidation tactics are.)
This time it involves the Freedom of Information Act and the Associated Press who is suing the court in an attempt to get copies of emails and other correspondence involving Chief Justice "Spike" Maynard's relationship with his BFF Don Blankenship of Massey Energy fame.
I'm all for it... it's bad enough when secrecy involves the White House and the Republican Party, but allowing the same thing to go on with a relationship that involves potential preferential treatment to a company like Massey Energy and their controversial CEO needs to see the light of day.
The Associated Press served notice today it will sue the state Supreme Court for failure to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
The AP alleges the high court violated the law when it determined that Chief Justice Elliott "Spike'' Maynard's e-mails, visitor logs and other records were not subject to FOIA. The court released information pertaining to other court employees.
The AP specifically requested any communication between Maynard and Massey Energy chief Don Blankenship. The information was sought as part of the AP's coverage of Maynard's July 2006 European vacation rendezvous with Blankenship. The coal company had several cases pending or headed toward West Virginia's sole appeals court at the time.
In rejecting the AP's request, the court's general counsel, J. Kirk Brandfass, said FOIA does not apply to the five Supreme Court justices.
The complete story can be read in the Daily Mail by clicking here
As political as our Supreme Court of Appeals appears to be the Freedom of Information Act must apply in a case that is as questionable as this.
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