The Coast Tightrope Tokyo Police Club Remix

Are Bloggers Journalists? Let’s ask Thomas Jefferson
by: Christopher B. Daly

Who is a journalist?

In America, where we don’t license journalists, that is not always a simple question. Lately, the issue has come up in a new light because of the claims made by people who post Web logs. Bloggers came to prominence during the 2004 election, often criticizing or correcting the “mainstream media.” Recently, the first blogger in history was issued credentials to cover the White House. And just last month, a California judge was asked to decide whether bloggers who write about Apple computers can enjoy the legal protections of that state’s “shield laws.”

Not surprisingly, most bloggers insist that they are journalists, entitled to equal rights with older media. Others disagree, saying bloggers are not journalists by any stretch. Recently, for example, Los Angeles Times media critic David Shaw argued that bloggers should not be considered journalists because they have no experience, they have no editors, and they have no standards.

Who is to say?

One approach to an answer is historical. In fact, bloggers stand squarely in a long-standing journalistic tradition. In this country, their roots go back to the authors of the often-anonymous writings that helped to found America itself by encouraging the rebellion against Britain [....]

...What we think of as reporting — the pursuit, on a full-time basis, of verifiable facts and verbatim quotations — was not a significant part of journalism in the time of Jefferson and Paine. In fact, the practice of reporting began around 1833 in New York’s “penny papers” and gradually spread during the 19th Century.

Nowadays, when we ask whether someone is a journalist, we may need to refine the question. We should ask: Is this the kind of journalist who presents analysis, commentary, or political rants? Or, is this the kind of journalist who offers the fruits of reporting? Or some of both? The issue is not the job title but the activity.

Anyone who engages in reporting — whether for newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or blogs — deserves equal protection under those laws, whether the news is delivered with a quill pen or a computer. (READ MORE)

The Coast Tightrope with Tokyo Police Club


In advance of the US release of 'Expatriate', The Coast released the Tightrope 7" with remix by Tokyo Police Club, now available on Magnificent Sevens Records.

'Expatriate' will be released in the US this August as The Coast's debut full length and the album kicks off with the track "Tightrope" in all of its "hey hey you!" catchy glory! This hardworking Canadian four piece has been grabbing a huge amount of attention including a number of publications touting The Coast as One To Watch.

At SXSW this spring, while The Coast were also hailed as "Canada's Best Kept Secret" by MTV , named "2008 Artist To Watch"by Exclaim! Magazine and "Band Destined For Success" by the 2008 Eye Weekly's Critic's Poll. The Coast mix shimmering guitar with unexpected synth moves, a bit of distortion, stunning vocals and back it up with a confidence that goes beyond their years in creating their sublime pop which inhabits "a territory somewhere between the emotive Brits like Verve and The Smiths and rugged roots rock a la Ryan Adems" (NOW Magazine).

The Coast - "Tightrope" (Tokyo Police Club Remix)

For more on The Coast, visit their MySpace page