The New York Times features the news from New Brunswick, where blogger Charles LeBlanc who had been arrested for “obstructing police”, was acquitted since he wasn’t treated like a journalist by police.
“William J. McCarroll, the provincial court judge who heard Mr. LeBlanc’s case, wrote in his decision that “Mr. LeBlanc is a ‘blogger.’ I’m sure that many, if not the majority of Saint Johners, are not familiar with this word.””
This could be an important case for bloggers in Canada.
Hat tip to Vive le Canada.
@hotmail.com
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.efc.ca/images/efcfreet.gif)
scout | 28-Nov-06 at 10:13 pm | Permalink
it must be getting kinda strange out there when the commercial blogs are asked their occupation. ‘blogger’. ‘huh?’
i don’t know how well that would go over at customs :)
what was i reading the other day too about a blogger being paid to trash some opponent in either ontario elections or the lib leadership race (no memory, just recollection)
Stephen Glauser | 28-Nov-06 at 11:05 pm | Permalink
This is good news. Bloggers should be treated the same as journalists anyway, although we aren’t exactly held to the same standards and practices. It would be interesting to find out how many bloggers that act as journalists actually follow up their stories to get comments and the like.
Saskboy | 28-Nov-06 at 11:40 pm | Permalink
That reminds me Stephen, I didn’t phone the town of Briercrest back to find out why they never replied to me with which RCMP I would contact if I had a crime committed against me in their town. You’d think it would have been an easy question, considering they need to know that for an emergency and it’s public knowledge. I guess they clammed up when I said I was a blogger.
I’d never tell Customs I was a “blogger”. I’d say ‘writer” if pressed [and if I were actually a pro-blogger].