Across town, Lindsay at Majikthise has a post making the astute point that the obsessive press coverage of bloggers at the convention stems from the affront to the professionalization of journalism:
Journalists see themselves as professionals. Self-regulation is one of the distinctive features of a profession. Just as doctors reserve the right to decide who can practice medicine, many journalists feel entitled to decide who gets to make the news. Traditionally, press credentials have been earned by securing the approval of the press (i.e. getting hired by some acknowledged news source). This year, a handful of bloggers got the nod directly from the political parties.
It’s a simple point, really, but not one that many seem to have thought to make. (Feel free to point me to others.)
Meanwhile, to quibble with Lindsay, I personally don’t have problems with the DNC hand picking bloggers. The capacity in which they’re attending is nominally as small-time press, but really is much the same as other party faithful: delegates, donors, hangers on. All sorts of people attend these conventions, and extending entry to bloggers was the smartest thing the Democratic party has done in ages.
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