AP Lifts from the small press again and won't correct

[lala_rawraw]

I spent a week going over line by line of the 1997 vs. 2000 clearance restriction policy. I communicated with exports ranging from FAS to Global Security to intel officials to state department officials. I then had Carlos Miller, one of our staff writers, go through the documents and compare them. Then John Byrne, my editor and co-writer on the piece went through and compared them. Read the article here
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/US_quietly_tightens_access_to_classified_0314.html

The Human Rights campaign was contacted and along with various GLBT groups who had read the article, they handed it off to the AP and asked them to report on it too.

The AP, however, simply lifted our story and our research, without credit and made it their own. Then they followed up with a second article. We contacted them and requested that they credit us, as they should, and they said no.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060314/ap_on_go_pr_wh/gays_security_clearances;_ylt=AuoOshcKp9WL0I6WvalKYq.yFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA


This is how the MSM now works and obviously earns its large checks! I, on the other hand, had to pay for my own research and made less than 100 bucks for that article as I don't get paid for my time, just for my delivered item. I am livid and of course I have no course of action!

I would say let's go to the press, but I am the press and I am being screwed by the anti-press. So, maybe KO would be interested if enough of us let him know about this, because frankly, this is not the first time and we are not the only small press to suffer this crap.

end of rant and request, thanks

[H2O Man]

1. I think that DU

should have a loosely organized group of people who participate in daily e-mail campaigns to programs like KO, or newspapers, or to elected representatives.

Beginning or rant and request, thanks.

[lala_rawraw]

2. good idea

DU should back small press journalists when the smear is on or work is lifted. But also, there should be different arms: women's issues, voting rights, etc. Advocacy sub-groups that monitor important news and events that go under the radar and contact not only the media, but roll out the paper chase.

Great idea, if only someone would organize it now.

[leveymg]

12. I believe we already do that, don't we?

It's ad hoc and individual, but a lot of us are frequent contributors to the LTTE and Op-ed drop boxes at various newspapers and magazines. Some of it even makes its way into print.

[stop the bleeding]

3. I would have thought that we would have a master email list to send

to places like K.O., Democracy Now, blogs, and even ones like CNN ect...

One master link that would send to all news sites would be ideal and then someone could start an anti-smear/disinformation thread with the master link within the body along with the subject of what is to be emailed/disputed People then could just copy, click into link paste email subject and send to all of the news sites. On some poll threads we have over a hundred kicks, imagine if we had a thread like this created each and every time to help fight disinformation/smears.

Am I asking too much?

[leveymg]

13. Didn't DU used to have a Media Blaster?

Or, was that Democrats.com? I've often wondered about the utility of that, though. IMHO, editors tend to be more persuaded by a few well-developed letters, than a huge blizzard of rants. I guess it could work, either way.

[stop the bleeding]

14. I thought there was something as well, form letter or original thought

can not hurt either way, it shows the MSM that there are people paying attention. It would be nice if DU had a media blaster located in a permanent place so that when an anti-smear/disinformation thread is created this link would be easily found.

Kicking for possible answer on this.

[leveymg]

17. I'll ask Admin whether one can be provided at an Issue Response Forum

[stop the bleeding]

19. cool, you are more articulate at conveying the message than

I am.

Let's keep our fingers crossed, effing no good for nothin' MSM.

[leveymg]

21. You'll be the first to hear.

Thanks again!

[myrna minx]

4. This is unconscionable.

I'm so sorry lala. :-(

[stop the bleeding]

5. I sent an email to Countdown, don't know what good it will do, but

I rather fail trying, than to fail wishing I had tried something.

[e-mail]

[EFerrari]

6. Send it to ED & PUB, lala. n/t

[Coexist]

7. What schmucks

sorry about that - I will write a few emails for you.

[LisaLynne]

8. The Corporate Media in this country is just getting more and more ...

underhanded and pathetic. They can't afford to give credit where credit is due? That sucks. But all the ideas about an email database were really good!

[phusion]

9. Maybe you should talk to Amy Goodman

and maybe she would be willing to discuss this on her show...

[stop the bleeding]

10. Yep - Amy is a real crusader

[leveymg]

11. If the article is Copyrighted, you can sue. What do your lawyers say?

If nothing else, it shows that people in the MSM are reading your work.

Less than $100 for a feature? I know, most print media don't pay much, either. But, when is a progressive publication that pays writers a living wage going to emerge? I think the last attempt at that was PM, but that had a department store magnate behind it.

The closest thing to that is happening on the Right. There's an on-line publisher who's tied in with the Bulldog and all that gang who's sharing out ad revenues to what he calls "beta testers" for providing content. See, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/18/172127/546

Mr. Soros (or somebody with seed money), are you listening?

[lala_rawraw]

23. um... the volunteer lawyers say

we cannot afford to sue

[RazzleDazzle]

25. I wouldn't call them volunteer lawyers

I'd call them NON-volunteer lawyers and find some others instead. I like the idea below of taking it to Editor and Publisher.

[mom cat]

15. AP for "Worst Persons in the World". Yes, that has a nice ring to it.

[katinmn]

16. This is where it pays to belong to an association or union

Free advice and legal help.

[EVDebs]

18. AP Editor's ethics code seems to have been violated

http://www.apme.com/ethics/

Also, you can email these editors, many of whom may be Repubicans/conservatives with a tilt toward the * administration. I remember reading Ben Bagdikian's book on media ownership being lucrative to family ownerships who then sell out to the conglomerates and get muy wealthy. The financial incentives to promote 'tax cut' and fiscally insane Republican economic policies are all there in the editor's office in every case. All self interest over society's.

"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows."
George Orwell

BushCo and AP just make freedom more difficult.

[EVDebs]

20. Link to contact AP Managing Editors. Tell them what you think

http://www.apme.com/membership/contact.shtml

[SeattleRob]

22. Sorry to hear that!

I am not surprised, though.


As a special note, thanks for your excellent reporting! Keep up the good work!

:yourock:

[RazzleDazzle]

24. WHY do you have no recourse?

Can you not prove you had it first? Copyright laws still exist, and they exist in cyberspace too. (Of course, I do realize you need a lawyer, but those can be found on occasion.)

[lala_rawraw]

26. Of course I can... look at the dates...

Look at the content and given that they were handed my article by a GLBT group, I would have to say no question in terms of proof. But I don't have the money to do this via an attorney. Finding a good lawyer who is willing to do pro bono work is not likely. I will try E&P