Journal Star columnist
Rich Miller , a political columnist who operates thecapitolfaxblog.com, nominated JudgeAlbert Purham Jr. for “jerk of the month” after Purham ruled that bloggers are not journalists under Illinois law. Bill Dennis, known as the Peoria Pundit (peoriapundit.com), opined at length: “The whole bloggers-can’t-be-journalists thing not only really ticks me off, it’s a threat to the First Amendment.”Stupid bloggers.
We’re stupid, she writes, because we miss the big issue, namely that juvenile courts would be improved by shedding light on them.
My response: “Well, duh.” I pretty much assume that when the news media — be it snooty newspaper columnists or hard-working, unpaid bloggers — are denied access, it the public who suffers in the dark. It goes without saying.
However, I do believe I’ve said that very same thing several times on my blog, including here. Pam must have missed them.
And the Rich Miller post in question makes it clear that this isn’t about bloggers being ticked off for their own sakes, but because the issues in question need and deserve coverage.
So, the facts are clear that we didn’t miss the point.
But thanks, Pam, for printing my URL. You did get that right.
Hat tip Elaine Hopkins.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
August’s Jerk of the Month is open. Hmmm.
Oh, be nice.
I knew you’d be pissed by that line. I think she was trying to employ a rhetorical device, but it failed (I doubt she meant to call her former colleague — and current official PJS bloggers — stupid). I believe she was using that statement to indicate what the court would think of bloggers.
The paragraph following the “stupid bloggers” bit stated that the problem wasn’t denying bloggers entry to the courts, but denying the public (bloggers and everyone else) access to the courts.
Or, maybe she was just being a jerk.
Her next line: “Can’t blame them for defending narrow self-interest, but this is one of those cases where “citizen journalists” show they’re as capable of missing the mark on citizens’ best interests as the mainstream media.”
Agreed. I said I think she failed. But I don’t think she literally meant you were stupid.
I sent her the following e-mail…
===Did you even bother to read what I wrote? ===
She replied…
===yeah, i read it. . just trying to get your attn. . . ===
The first failure is in caring about anything Pam X says.
Real classy, Rich.
Not sure I follow, Somebody. Perhaps I am stupid, so you should enlighten me.
Hmmm. The maturity level is at question. People stopped calling me _ _ _ _ ly when I hit puberty.
What do you think Richey?
Huh?
Double huh?
Dunno, guys. People stopped calling him studly when he hit puberty.
Wow! An online version of “hangman”. Is there a “G”?
Rich Miller,
I cant find an email to get ahold of you but i have a story on DCFs that every one need to hear and i have a news reporter willing to do a story if i can get people together to picket the DCFs office in peoria, Please help
1111 my email is http://www.mustang66480@yahoo.com