Bloggers are journalists, sort of

"Yesterday I couldn't even spell journalist and now I are one." -- ApocryphalBlogger.com

The Federal Election Commission didn't exactly declare bloggers to be journalists, but it did rule yesterday that blogs are exempt from regulation for political activity, and it did cite the "press exemption" from campaign finance laws.

BNA Money and Politics Report:

The decision to provide bloggers with the same press exemption for FEC rules long enjoyed by members of the traditional media represented a "powerful statement," according to Michael Toner, the FEC's Republican vice chair. Toner said the action recognized that it was the goal of the Federal Election Campaign Act "to protect the media in all its forms."

He noted that the law has long guaranteed the right of any media outlet to discuss political campaigns and even endorse candidates, so long as it is not controlled by a candidate or political party.

More information related to the Fire Up! advisory opinion is available online at FEC.gov The Fired Up! America Web site, which asked for the ruling, is at FiredUpAmerica