Privileged access for bloggers at Westminster

Earlier this week, House of Commons chiefs made the decision to allow a select group of bloggers privileged access to government communications, meaning that some bloggers will be allowed into the Westminster lobby system, which allows reporting directly from inside parliament.

On first thoughts, it sounded like a really bold and forwarding thinking move, but looking at the criteria that bloggers will be required to meet, far from opening up political reporting, those bloggers who will be accepted will still be part of the political journalism establishment.

Reading about this story in PR Week they explained that the Westminster lobby is where a small group of journalists have the opportunity of privileged access to certain parts of Parliament. But I feel the new proposals only want to expand this small group significantly.

The criteria has stated that the 'bloggers' must be proper journalists, operating for respectable news organisations. Well that's slightly subjective statement!

In addition to this they must have a large number of subscribers and they must use their pass for the purpose of journalism.

I wonder how many bloggers out there who write about politics will actually meet this criteria? It can't be that many!

It's been argued by Commons chiefs that an 'influx of bloggers into the lobby could further undermine the reputation of parliament'.

I don't think there has to be an influx, but it would be interesting to have a group of amateur bloggers 'citizen journalists' who are totally outside the political journalism establishment. Far from undermining the reputation of parliament it would help to make parliament more accessible to ordinary people.

Part of my understanding of blogging is that it's open to anyone. It only takes a matter of minutes to set up a very basic looking blog. It allows the amateur to publish their thoughts and opinions.

Of course many professional journalists have their own blogs, but I just feel that in this case, there is just going to be more professional journalist reporting on parliamentary affairs who just happen to be writing on a blog of some description.

It doesn't really sound like such a drastic new move when you look at it like that. Perhaps they should look in future at being a little more radical and inviting amateur bloggers to report on our political system.