Keven R. Graves, publisher/editor of the weekly Nisqually Valley News (NVN) stated in his April 28th editorial column
“a blog is not to be mistaken for true journalism, and any attempt to qualify a blog as shuch should quickly get those red flags flying and alarm bells ringing” as he “…stumbled across a blog the other day…” in response to his discovery of this writer’s new Yelm Community blog announced to the public 4 days prior to his byline.

This writer has received many emails, comments and calls expressing support following Mr. Graves’ “Publisher’s Corner” piece. Since he did not list the blog or blogger by name, only referring to me as Mr. Blogger, this caused his readers to do their own research as to what and whom Mr. Graves was referring, providing untold free advertising for this site.
To futher put Mr. Graves’ editorial in context, one of the country’s more respected newspapers the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting “In a decision that could set the tone for journalism in the digital age, a California appeals court ruled Friday [May 26] that bloggers, like traditional reporters, have the right to keep their sources confidential…The decision by the state Court of Appeal in San Jose, which reverses a ruling by the Santa Clara County Superior Court, speaks to changes in the way news is gathered and published. Anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can now be a reporter. It also means that information, not limited by region or resources, can reach far and wide via the Web. In their ruling, the judges said the online news sites should be treated as newspapers, television and radio broadcasts are. O’Grady and the other bloggers, they contended, were acting as traditional reporters and editors do: developing sources, collecting information and publishing it, albeit on the Web.”
Puget Sound’s Seattle Times also carried the Bloomberg News wire on this story as did other worldwide newspapers.

This writer never said a blogger was a journalist, rather the former Yelm Mayoral candidate following through with his campaign slogan “Giving You a Voice.” A blog is a fabulous vehicle for the community to air their views and by creating this blog, our community can see that “Giving You A Voice” was not just a slogan. Now, a court has ruled that bloggers should be treated the same as newspapers.

Mr. Blogger