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Didn't think I'd be spending the week engaging with 1A issues, but 
Some of you followed the recent dumpster fire of a @sfbos meeting, in which they voted to single out @TheMarinaTimes from the City's advertising list on the basis that its coverage is Fake, Bad and Mean.
Some of you followed the recent dumpster fire of a @sfbos meeting, in which they voted to single out @TheMarinaTimes from the City's advertising list on the basis that its coverage is Fake, Bad and Mean.
I called up some First Amendment advocates+scholars for their reaction to this type of action from a government body:
"Troubling"
"Disturbing"
"Fishy" https://www.publiccommentsf.com/post/board-of-supervisors-amendment-to-newspaper-contracts-sets-a-troubling-precedent
"Troubling""Disturbing""Fishy" https://www.publiccommentsf.com/post/board-of-supervisors-amendment-to-newspaper-contracts-sets-a-troubling-precedent
As @FAcoalition told me:
"Making this distinction between valid and invalid journalism, it's a disturbing distinction for government officials to be making. Journalism isn’t about pleasing elected leaders; it's about holding them to account."
"Making this distinction between valid and invalid journalism, it's a disturbing distinction for government officials to be making. Journalism isn’t about pleasing elected leaders; it's about holding them to account."
Editor's soapbox:
It's not a public official's role to adjudicate what is and isn't legitimate journalism. Full stop.
Trump unfortunately normalized this, and even some allegedly progressive politicians seem all too eager to keep sliding down this slippery slope.
It's not a public official's role to adjudicate what is and isn't legitimate journalism. Full stop.
Trump unfortunately normalized this, and even some allegedly progressive politicians seem all too eager to keep sliding down this slippery slope.
Of course, the biggest irony here is that SF City Hall is subject to a massive FBI investigation right now related to violations of public trust.
Politicians with integrity - do they even exist here? - should welcome scrutiny. Yes, even if it sometimes hurts their fee-fees.
Politicians with integrity - do they even exist here? - should welcome scrutiny. Yes, even if it sometimes hurts their fee-fees.
If you can't take it, the private sector awaits!
I hear there's great money in Permit Expediting
I hear there's great money in Permit Expediting
OH, and coincidentally, there is also a campaign right now to #SaveSFnews!
We've teamed up with a bunch of other amazing independent outlets in town to get the word out. https://twitter.com/SFIndiePress/status/1334269571151187969
We've teamed up with a bunch of other amazing independent outlets in town to get the word out. https://twitter.com/SFIndiePress/status/1334269571151187969
It's a very tough time for small publications, and if you agree that a thriving local press is vital to democracy, give a few bucks to @SFIndiePress if you can, and/or send to your friends.
https://www.savesfnews.com/
https://www.savesfnews.com/
