Should Journalists Be Licensed by the State?

57 Replies to “Should Journalists Be Licensed by the State?”

1. I keep expecting people to learn from history. I should stop doing that.

2. Not licensed by the State … but they should be required to wear giant donkey ears … or wear orange red, and green puffin costumes.
   Even the retired ones … unless, of course, they think that state licensing is “bad”.

3. Licenced, no.
   But gagged, and neutered…. definitely.

4. As long as freedom of the press is listed in the Charter of Rights, licensing journalists is unconstitutional.

5. Mexico had, maybe still has, a similar but more advanced system.
   Each new journalist would begin receiving an “allowance” cheque
   from the PRI fed or state govt in addition to pay from his employer.
   If the cheques stopped, it was a pretty good indicator it was time to
   find a different vocation. Those few brave souls who continued work-
   ing at opposition newspapers without their extra cheque and somehow
   remained alive could probably be counted on the fingers of two hands
   or when things got extra rough, one hand.
   .

6. nv35, there’s still that pesky “notwithstanding” clause to consider.
   Moi, I think we should build a fence around Montreal and QC, stop transfer payments and call it square. They can have all the French language fascism inside the fence that they want.
   I’m considering the idea for Toronto as well. Fascism comes in the English version as well.

7. LC Bennett: “Maybe I am misunderstanding your post Bill Elder but I don’t think your reasoning will have any effect because the left is all for press licensing.”
   This is a subject that splits the left between etremist and self interest camps. Only the left who feed from state bureucracy want this. Private sector lefty doesn’t – he sees the impact on his ability to communicate his ideas – he (rightfully)realizes that an extreme right regime could use this law to shut down leftist media.
   As I said these lefties who see the state coming after their free speech were cheerleaders when the government came after duck hunters.