US FEC puts blogs on par with MSM

Enough acronyms in that title?

Big news: The US Federal Election Commission (FEC) just voted 6-0, putting political blogs on par with the mainstream media (MSM).

This was an important ruling because many had questioned whether the activity of third-party blogs should be considered as a form of campaign activity covered by campaign finance laws. The decision means that internet activity, including blogging, e-mail communications and online publications, are exempt from these laws.

As Wired Magazine described it: "Bloggers would be entitled to the same exemption from the campaign finance law that newspapers and other traditional forms of media receive."

But I think FEC Chairman Michael Toner summarizes this decision best, saying: "There will be no second class citizens among members of the media."

I think this is a tremendously important point. There are two key trends that relate to blogging and the MSM. Blogs and the traditional media are becoming more and more intertwined, and also, more and more people are getting and sharing news through blogs. Both point toward the growing importance of blogs and their interconnectivity between people and the media.

Had the FEC voted to include third-party blogs in with political advertising, it would have cast a pall over the web. Sure glad that didn't happen. We here in Canada can take some measure of comfort that this decision might someday help protect blogs in this country.