David Akin's On the Hill :: No Tories for you, Jennifer Smith

Info/Contact for David Akin

Want a widget like this?

Get On The Hill updates in your RSS reader

Home

Search this blog:

Custom Search

Subscribe to this blog using your favourite feed reader:

Who pays for this blog?
I receive no fees, considerations, etc. etc. for the posts on this blog nor do I have any plans to accept any. My salary is paid by Canwest Global Communications Corp. I work for that company as the Ottawa-based National Affairs Correspondent for Canwest News Service.
The blog publishing platform used here is called Blogware and it's developed by Tucows Inc. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. My use of Blogware should not be taken as an endorsement of that company. Like all Blogware users, I do not pay any fees for the use of this service.
I participate in program. Google pays me some money and, for that, I give Google some space on this site to display ads. Google sells those ads and Google, not me, decides what advertising content you are seeing. I do not filter these ads and take no responsibility for them. Readers should not assume I endorse any of the products or services advertised here.
If you think other disclosures are appropriate in this space, I'd like to hear from you. All of my contact details are always at www.davidakin.com You can read more about this section

Main Page

Previous:	Tony Judt on history
Next:	Who loves oil prices? B.C. does!

No Tories for you, Jennifer Smith

by DavidAkin on Wed 21 May 2008 10:16 PM EDT | Permanent Link | Cosmos

Jennifer Smith is a "left-leaning opinionated writer, singer, woodworker, genealogist, runologist and entrepreneur" who lives in Milton, Ont. She's also a blogger and she was prepared to get herself accredited and pay her own way out to cover the 2008 Conservative convention. She applied, as per instructions at the Conservative Web site, but today, received her rejection letter from party operative Paul Stickney.

UPDATE: A Conservative Party official called to say that neither I nor readers of this blog should get the idea that the party is vetting bloggers based on their political leanings. Some Liberal bloggers, this official pointed out, have already been approved -- step forward, Jason Cherniak -- and the party is urging the folks behind the Liblogs blogroll and the Blogging Tories to create a joint Convention blogroll that will link to all accredited bloggers no matter their political affiliation.

Greg Elmer interprets the invitation by the Conservatives to accredit bloggers to read that the Conservatives are looking for fellow travellers. Again: The Party says they are not.

It's probably also important to point that, just as with the MSM, in accrediting one blogger and not another, the party is not endorsing the views or opinions of that blogger (just as they don't endorse the views or opinions of MSM reporters or organizations simply by accrediting them). I point that out because that issue may come up if, for example, Kate McMillan of Small Dead Animals wants accreditation.

Technorati Tags: blogs, conservatives, journalism

Posted to:

Main Page

Comments

Post a comment

Re: No Tories for you, Jennifer Smith

by Gabby in QC on Thu 22 May 2008 10:21 AM EDT | Profile | Permanent Link

Mr. Akin,

The title of your post "No Tories etc." is followed by the opening sentence «Jennifer Smith is a "left-leaning opinionated writer, singer, woodworker, genealogist, runologist and entrepreneur" who lives in Milton, Ont.»

The conclusion a reader might draw (one who doesn't bother to peruse the Jennifer Smith blog site) is that the part in quotes - "left-leaning opinionated writer, singer, woodworker, genealogist, runologist and entrepreneur" - was the reason for the refusal given by the "Tories."

Should it not have been made clear that the description about Smith is one SHE gives of herself?

Also, Ms. Smith herself stated “My application was turned down, probably because I’m pretty small fry. With you [Scott Tribe], they wouldn’t have that excuse.”

So, why is the rejection of Ms. Smith's application of such great significance?

And, don't you think the Conservative Party may have the right to hum (an adapted) version of the Leslie Gore song "It's My Party" inviting whomever they want?

Yes, I know, I'm dating myself by referencing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_My_Party_(song)

Re: No Tories for you, Jennifer Smith

by jad on Thu 22 May 2008 12:07 PM EDT | Profile | Permanent Link

This is a great example of a completely manufactured story.

Jennifer Smith tells you in the comments to another post that she is a "left-leaning blogger" and has applied for accreditation at the convention. In the interests of full disclosure, she also points out that she is "fairly small potatoes", and agrees that that would be a valid reason to turn down her request, which is what happens.

It would have been a more balanced story had you posted some of her responses to the application, such as average posts per week and monthly visitors. Did you omit these because you a) don't know, or b) don't care or c) know that if you had demonstrated that she is "fairly small potatoes", there wouldn't be a story ?

Realistically, given the fact that there is limited space at the convention, it only makes sense to give that space to people with a wider audience. It also makes sense to wait and see if Liberal bloggers do get accredited before jumping in with this kind of negative story, which you then have to update.

Re: No Tories for you, Jennifer Smith

by jsmith on Thu 22 May 2008 02:20 PM EDT | Profile | Permanent Link

Holy smokes, people - chill!

For the record, I did point out in my post that I never really expected to get accredited given my meager double-digit-per-day readership. Which, BTW, has quadrupled since David posted this. Thanks, David!

I also pointed out that while I originally suspected the Conservatives might try to exclude liberal and progressive bloggers, I had since been informed that some had been actively encouraged to apply. I didn't know Jason had been accepted, but that's hardly surprising. They'd look pretty stupid if they turned him down. I would also love to see somebody from Canadian Cynic there as well, just to see who survives the SDA/CC deathmatch :)

At any rate, I think people are reading too much into David's post. I certainly don't see that he was implying anything other than that liberal bloggers have been applying, here is someone who got turned down, and here's what her rejection letter said. That is all.

Sometimes a no is just a no.

Re: Re: No Tories for you, Jennifer Smith

by Gabby in QC on Thu 22 May 2008 04:36 PM EDT | Profile | Permanent Link

"Holy smokes, people - chill!"
What, one is not allowed to interpret and comment on what one reads?
Most members of the MSM "interpret" the government's moves or lack thereof on a daily basis.
So here's a member of the MSM (Mr. Akin) who seeks comments from the general population on his blog.
And you want them to "chill"?

I notice you yourself didn't shy away from "interpreting."
"... I originally suspected the Conservatives might try to exclude liberal and progressive bloggers, I had since been informed that some had been actively encouraged to apply."

What's a blog for, if not to elicit comments?

Post comment:

Format Type:
	Convert newlines
	Receive comment notifications for this article
Subject:

Comment:

Comment verification:

Please enter the text you see inside the graphic to post your comment:

You are not currently logged in. If you would like your user information to be displayed with your comment, please enter your login information below.

Username:
Password:

If you would like to post contact information on your comment, please enter your information into the optional fields below:

Contact information:

Name:
URL:		example: http://yourdomain.com
Email:

Please note: email will not be displayed on the site, only for the blog owner. If logged in, URL will only be used.