A footnote on the whole Mayhill Fowler thing: Mindy McAdams, writing about this story, makes the point it’s important we don’t start insisting on accreditation for “offical” journalists. “Naming who is a journalist - and who is not - is a dangerous, dangerous course to follow - and one I hope will never be pursued in my own country,” she writes.

I agree, but she should be aware that the US insists on just that - accreditation - for foreign reporters.

My US reporting visa is expired now, because I don’t report from there any more. It’s a hassle to renew as well - were I to try, it would be paperwork, money and a visit to the US embassy in London before I could work from the US.

I’m not tempted to try a sneaky workaround. Were I to take up reporting again and do my thing from Web 2.0 in San Francisco next week, I too could be locked up and thrown out the country - just like reporters from Zimbabwe whose fate she highlights on her blog. A freelance working for the Guardian suffered this indignity a few years back, and I know journalists fall foul of this reasonably regularly. Long weekends in New York get a whole bunch harder after that, I’ll warrant.

The reasons for the rules differ, I’m sure, between the US and Zimbabwe, but the effect is just the same.


COMMENTS / 2 COMMENTS

Ha, good point, Neil, and nicely made too.

Now, what happens if a fine young Englishman happens to be in the U.S. and happens to spot some news taking place and just happens to blog it? Does my government call him an unauthorized journalist and give him the boot?

It seems like it’s going to get very hard to draw that line, if it’s not already impossible.

Mindy McAdams thought this on Apr 17 08 at 7:45 pm

Hi Mindy - you raise a very good point. I’d imagine the case would revolve around the definition of “foreign news media” to which, from memory, we have to promise not to contribute when we enter the US on the visa waiver scheme. I’d argue this, or any individual’s blog, is hardly “foreign news media”, but the Homeland Security folk are the ones who get to decide :)

Neil McIntosh thought this on Apr 17 08 at 8:14 pm

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