September 17th is Constitution Day; the day American citizens are to celebrate the signing of the constitution. While many are discussing what little teens know (and the general populous for that matter) about one of the most sacred documents in our nation’s history, I would like to address the constitution and its relevance to mass media and news-gatherers - bloggers in particular.

The First Amendment reads:

          Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

For the media, this is golden protection against certain types of censorship. For news-gatherers who believe in the original ideal of journalism as a way to bolster democracy, freedom of press also is a very important form of checks and balances on business and government.

However, as bloggers become a larger group of news-gatherers, many ask the question, are bloggers journalists? For all intents and purposes, this question has already been answered and First Amendment protections have already been extended to news-gathering bloggers. But you might still be asking, what does this mean?

In Branzburg vs. Hayes Justice Byron White wrote:

“Freedom of the press is a ‘fundamental personal right’ which ‘is not confined to newspapers and periodicals. It necessarily embraces pamphlets and leaflets. … The press in its historic connotation comprehends every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of information and opinion.’ … The informative function asserted by representatives of the organized press in the present cases is also performed by lecturers, political pollsters, novelists, academic researchers, and dramatists.”

Blogs can serve also as catalysts to journalism. In the early hours of September 11, 2001, blogs became the best available source of eyewitness reporting. And late last year a Weblogger picked up Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott’s comments about Strom Thurmond from a C-Span broadcast and ignited an online firestorm that, in turn, prompted mainstream news organizations to become involved in reporting the story.

Another recent and ongoing example demonstrating the power of the blogging reporter is a recent thread on Newsvine where a regular contributor reported from his home while a forest fire burned dangerously close – even after the “official” journalists left for safety. Like the Tsunami and a myriad of bloggers before him, Walt D provided regular updates in gripping and harrowing fashion.

In my view the key difference between a traditional journalist and a blogging “citizen journalist” is the necessity for borrowed authority – or the lack thereof. For example, many of the writers on Know More Media are hired first for their expertise in a particular subject and second for their demonstrated ability to write. When you are considered an authority is there any need to borrow authority from others?

The answer would be a resounding no. Instead the author would be able to offer a unique perspective on particular events from their expertise and experience. In this case, you could not say that these bloggers are simply expressing an opinion but that they are providing additional information that the average journalist probably never could. If this becomes the standard for bloggers, it could drastically change the standards for reporting on certain subjects such as business and technology.

In short, digital media has definitely changed the way we look at journalism. Ultimately, the courts have decided that anyone gathering news for the purpose of providing information to the public should be protected under the First Amendment right to free press – including the much debated “shield law” or protection for anonymous sources. This gives bloggers and other would be reporters – whether making money doing it or not – the freedom necessary to keep people informed using an alternate medium.