(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Florida Bill Would Force Bloggers, Indie Journalists To Register With the State [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags']
Date: 2023-03-02
This is after the bill that was introduced to make it easier to sue journalists.
This is scary. This is getting down to the grassroots of free speech in this country. Bloggers are under attack. If I understand correctly, this new bill in Florida applies to independent journalists who post blogs on Substack, such as Aaron Rupar, Judd Legum, Steve Schmidt and some other very worthwhile voices out there. Maybe even Dan Rather, he’s got a blog. None of these people live in Florida, but they have counterparts who do.
Here’s what just broke on PolitiZoom and Occupy Democrats, two other political blogs I read so I figured I should share it here.
Florida Republicans have introduced Senate Bill 1316, which will force bloggers/independent journalists who write stories about Ron DeSantis, or members of the executive cabinet, or state legislature, to register with the state. If they don’t register a piece with the state, they could receive fines of up to $2,500. If they do register with the state, then they have to report how much money they made or anticipate making from the piece.
Occupy Democrats says “In what comes across as an attempt to incentivize not writing about Florida’s elected officials, a blogger can avoid having to submit a monthly report if the content isn’t published.” You believe this? Bloggers have to submit monthly reports on what they write?
WFLA:
TAMPA, FLA. (WFLA) — FLORIDA SEN. JASON BRODEUR (R-LAKE MARY) WANTS BLOGGERS WHO WRITE ABOUT GOV. RON DESANTIS, ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHLEY MOODY, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA EXECUTIVE CABINET OR LEGISLATURE TO REGISTER WITH THE STATE OR FACE FINES. BRODEUR’S PROPOSAL, SENATE BILL 1316: INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, WOULD REQUIRE ANY BLOGGER WRITING ABOUT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO REGISTER WITH THE FLORIDA OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES OR THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS. IN THE BILL, BRODEUR WROTE THAT THOSE WHO WRITE “AN ARTICLE, A STORY, OR A SERIES OF STORIES,” ABOUT “THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, A CABINET OFFICER, OR ANY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE,” AND RECEIVES OR WILL RECEIVE PAYMENT FOR DOING SO, MUST REGISTER WITH STATE OFFICES WITHIN FIVE DAYS AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF AN ARTICLE THAT MENTIONS AN ELECTED STATE OFFICIAL.
You have to report yourself for writing about an elected official in Florida, at least if you make money doing it.
PolitiZoom says “bloggers are being targeted as dissidents in Florida and they are supposed to disclose their personal information and finances.” That’s how it appears to me. Get a list of bloggers in the state, find out how much money they’re making and fine the hell out of them if they step out of line.
The piece starts with this.
“First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist.” “Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Now they’re coming for the bloggers. Whether you’re a blogger or not, I suggest you speak out. Next they’re coming for the readers. This is incredible.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/2/2155924/-Florida-Bill-Would-Force-Bloggers-Indie-Journalists-To-Register-With-the-State
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
