Media Bloggers Association

The Media Bloggers Association (MBA) is a United States membership-based, non-partisan voluntary association focused on the development and recognition of blogging and citizen journalism as distinct forms of media. It presents itself as an organization supporting bloggers’ professional development, access to newsworthy events, and participation in public discussions about media standards, press access, copyright, and the relationship between independent online publishers and established news organizations. The association became publicly notable in January 2007, when one of its members obtained press credentials at a federal court to cover the trial of Lewis Libby. The credentials were described as equivalent to those issued to broadcast and print journalists. The proceeding also attracted bloggers associated with prominent sites including Firedoglake, the Huffington Post, and Daily Kos. The MBA treated the credentialing outcome as an important advance for its effort to establish bloggers as legitimate members of the press. At the same time, the better-known blogs covering the trial did not depend on the MBA to obtain their own access, which illustrated both the association’s advocacy role and the limits of its practical reach. In June 2008, the MBA became involved in a copyright and quotation dispute concerning the Associated Press. The dispute arose after the AP demanded that bloggers comply with restrictive terms when quoting from AP material, an issue brought to the association’s attention by Rogers Cadenhead in connection with his site, Drudge Retort. The episode placed the MBA in a broader debate over how traditional news organizations should license, police, or accommodate excerpts published by bloggers. It also reflected the unsettled legal and commercial environment of the period, when blogs were increasingly functioning as news outlets while copyright holders were still developing policies for online quotation and aggregation. The organization has been associated with both relatively prominent bloggers and less-known independent publishers. Names linked to its membership or public discussions have included Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit, Oliver Willis, Liza Sabater of Culture Kitchen, and Jeff Jarvis of BuzzMachine. Critics nevertheless questioned whether the MBA represented a substantial share of the blogging community, arguing that many major bloggers were not members and that the organization sometimes made broad claims on behalf of bloggers generally. Michael Arrington of TechCrunch also alleged, without supporting evidence, that a business relationship existed between the MBA and the Associated Press. Boing Boing, another critic, later issued a correction arguing that the AP and The New York Times had created the impression that the MBA spoke for all bloggers, rather than the MBA itself making that claim. Robert Cox and other supporters responded publicly to these criticisms. The available reference material does not establish the association’s founding date, current operating status, formal corporate structure, headquarters beyond the United States, current leadership, revenue, or an official website. It is therefore best characterized as a media-advocacy and professional association whose documented public activity was concentrated in debates over press credentials, blogger legitimacy, and copyright policy during the late 2000s.

The Media Bloggers Association emerged as a United States voluntary association during the period when blogs were becoming influential channels for political commentary, news analysis, and citizen reporting. It described its purpose as supporting blogging and citizen journalism as recognizable forms of media. Unlike a conventional publisher or technology platform, the MBA’s documented role was representational and advocacy-oriented: it sought to assist bloggers in gaining professional recognition, participating in news coverage, and responding to policies established by courts and traditional news organizations. The association’s most visible early episode occurred in January 2007 during the federal trial of Lewis Libby. An MBA member received press credentials that were described as equivalent to those issued to journalists working for broadcast and print outlets. Bloggers from well-known sites such as Firedoglake, the Huffington Post, and Daily Kos also covered the trial. The MBA regarded the credential as a meaningful precedent in its effort to normalize blogger access to official proceedings. The event also exposed a distinction between advocacy and operational necessity: the major blogs at the trial did not rely on the MBA to secure their own credentials, limiting the extent to which the episode demonstrated broad organizational control over blogger access. In June 2008, the MBA participated in a highly visible disagreement involving the Associated Press and online quotation. Rogers Cadenhead sought assistance concerning AP demands for strict conditions governing bloggers’ use of excerpts from AP stories, with the dispute affecting his Drudge Retort site. The matter reflected a central conflict in the development of online media. News organizations viewed unauthorized or extensive quotation as a threat to copyright and commercial value, while bloggers and aggregators argued that limited quotation, commentary, and linking were fundamental practices of online journalism and public discussion. The MBA’s involvement placed it among the organizations and commentators challenging the application of traditional news licensing expectations to the rapidly expanding blogosphere. The association also attracted criticism over the scope of its representative claims. Although figures associated with prominent blogs—including Glenn Reynolds, Oliver Willis, Liza Sabater, and Jeff Jarvis—were identified as members or participants, critics argued that the MBA did not include enough major bloggers to speak for the blogging community as a whole. Michael Arrington of TechCrunch alleged, without documented support in the cited material, that the MBA had a business relationship with the Associated Press. Boing Boing, which had criticized the organization, later published a correction maintaining that the AP and The New York Times had implied that the MBA represented all bloggers, rather than the MBA itself making that assertion. Robert Cox and other supporters responded to the criticism and defended the association’s role. The available sources do not provide a confirmed founding year, a complete membership register, a stable headquarters address, a current website, a formal leadership roster, or evidence sufficient to determine whether the association remains active. Its documented historical significance lies primarily in the transition-era disputes surrounding blogger legitimacy, court press access, and copyright rules for online news quotation. The MBA serves as an example of an advocacy organization formed during the professionalization of blogging, when independent publishers were negotiating their status in relation to established media institutions.

• 2008

  Association becomes involved in AP quotation dispute

  [1]Media Bloggers Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The MBA became involved in a dispute concerning Associated Press restrictions on bloggers quoting AP material, following concerns raised by Rogers Cadenhead regarding the Drudge Retort.

• 2007

  Member receives federal court press credentials

  [1]Media Bloggers Associationen.wikipedia.org

  An MBA member received credentials comparable to those issued to broadcast and print journalists for coverage of the Lewis Libby trial. The association described the event as a step toward broader recognition of bloggers as members of the press.

A non-partisan membership association positioned as an advocate for bloggers and citizen journalists seeking recognition, access, and fair treatment comparable to established media organizations.

• 2007Blogger press-access advocacy

  United States

  The association promoted the significance of a member obtaining federal court press credentials for the Lewis Libby trial, presenting the result as evidence that bloggers could receive treatment comparable to traditional journalists.

  Outcome. The credentialing event provided a documented example of blogger access, although major blogs covering the trial did not rely on the MBA for their credentials.

  Source

• 2008

  Intervention in Associated Press copyright and quotation debateStrategy

  Background

  The Associated Press sought to impose strict terms on bloggers quoting its reporting. Rogers Cadenhead raised the issue in connection with the Drudge Retort, bringing it into the MBA's sphere of advocacy.

  Action taken

  The MBA participated in the public dispute and challenged the implications of applying restrictive traditional-news quotation policies to bloggers and online publishers.

  Aftermath

  The episode became part of wider debate over copyright, fair quotation, aggregation, and the status of blogs as news media. The available material does not establish a definitive legal or commercial settlement.

  Source

• 2008

  Media Bloggers Association joins Associated Press quotation dispute[1]Media Bloggers Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Lawsuit · Other

  The MBA became involved in a dispute over Associated Press demands concerning the terms under which bloggers could quote AP reporting. The issue was raised in connection with Rogers Cadenhead and the Drudge Retort.

• 2007

  MBA member receives federal court press credentials for Lewis Libby trial[1]Media Bloggers Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The association reported that one of its members received press credentials equivalent to those issued to broadcast and print journalists to cover the Lewis Libby trial. The MBA presented the development as progress toward recognition of bloggers as legitimate media participants.

• Criticism of the association's representation of bloggers[1]Media Bloggers Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Some bloggers questioned whether the MBA represented a meaningful proportion of the blogging community, noting that many members were little known and that prominent bloggers were not necessarily dependent on the organization for access or advocacy.

1. 1Media Bloggers Associationen.wikipedia.org