US FEC Places Blogs In the ‘Media’ Camp, Allowing For Increased Legal Protections

The Federal Election Commission, or FEC, of the United States, in decisions concerning campaign finance laws and whether to classify blogs that charge for politically-relative advertisements whilst claiming allegiance to particular candidates for elected office, yesterday found the blogs are in fact publications with media credentials, and as such may exercise rights available within the bounds of US Electoral Law.

While these decisions, in their respective contexts, don’t appear very profound, they undoubtedly couple as a major boon to blogs, particularly those which carry significant influence into 2008 and beyond.

For years now, popular blogs, politically-toned or otherwise, have enjoyed immense publicity, but have more or less been regarded as a sort of underclass by Washington officials; a group with one foot in the press corps, and one still out.

And, it must be said, in some ways bloggers enjoy this role. It’s seen by many as sort of “half in, half out” status that allows for independence whilst affording them the ability to stay in touch with the important goings on in the halls of government. (Some are of course corrupted, and with time eventually only seek to embed fully into the Beltway tribe, but that’s to be expected. Such exceptions are in turn denounced by others in the blogosphere anyhow. So all generally seems fine on that front.)

But the FEC’s latest decisions as to the classification of blogs are important nonetheless, and very much worth noting. They now provide rights and exemptions from federal regulation in regards to campaign finance laws (which will receive a great deal of scrutiny and attention leading up to, during, and immediately following the 2008 presidential election) that much larger media groups may exercise.

It’s doubtful that this progression to more fair and more just treatment of blogs will continue to the point that they eventually stand on ground equal to the most well established members of the media industry. Blogs are, after all, blogs, and not full-fledged international organizations. Their size and unique structures are what make then elementally unique, and to be honest, I suspect their editors and proprietors wouldn’t have them any other way. But basic benefits like a generic media designation ensuring blogs remain free of legal liability during political campaign seasons do make sense. At the end of the day, such freedoms ensure that bloggers may continue to do what they do best: champion public discourse.