Katrina Media Being Excluded, Controlled by Feds

[snot]

From http://www.boingboing.net/2005/09/07/katrina_geek_dispatc.html :

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Katrina: Geek dispatch from inside Houston Astrodome 
BB pal Jacob Appelbaum is following Katrina aftermath in the affected area with Joel Johnson <http://joeljohnson.com/> . Jacob's maintaining a travelblog <http://jacob.wordpress.com/> and a regularly updated photostream <http://flickr.com/photos/ioerror/> . Snip from today's posts:

The BBC just called me. I am the only media inside the dome. We did a long interview and it’s going to be broadcast on Friday at 13:00 on their live webcast.
The media censorship here runs high. It was not easy to actually enter the dome as media. I am working with the group ‘Austin Airwaves’ and our badge says ‘PRESS’ in huge white letters on a red background. This has caused unending red tape. I have been the subject of removal a few times, bordering on a dozen. My camera draws the most fire.
I just heard we have the go ahead to put up the transmittter. I have no idea if that means we can broadcast or not. I assume it does because we have the FCC permits. The main issue here seems to be a total lack of leadership. No one with FEMA seems to know who their boss is. No one with the RedCross has authority. Everyone working for the owners (Reliant energy) of the dome is getting in our way. No photos. No entry. Attempted removal. Detainment.
The weather in Houston is hot and muggy. There is a great deal of police and military on the grounds.
As I said before, I’m the only person known to be in the dome according to the BBC. Their (Reliant staff) attempts to keep the media under control and out of the way also seem to keep the media from the most interesting spots. I have some really good photos and I will attempt to post them soon.
Link <http://jacob.wordpress.com/2005/09/07/11/>  

[DBoon]

1. when you privatize the government...

the powers that accrue to the owners of the private property take precedence over civil liberties.

American has a long history of privatizing political repression - from anti-union pinkertons to the klan

[truedelphi]

2. Sorry to hear this. Stick in there. We in the Public need 2 hear the Truth

And the Truth doesn't live in Bush's America any more.

I watched footage on one of the MSM channels Sunday about a couple in their partially damaged outside of New Orleans and how they have their guns ready.

"The sheriff told us to expect looters - and he said we have the right to shoot anyone who comes on our property. It's martial law now, y'all know."

So under martial law I doubt we can expect freedom of the press.

Carol

[Blue_In_AK]

4. The media MUST go underground, undercover...

...and continue to report. There are too many witnesses, too many leaks, for them to cover up this time. Any possibility that ordinary NG people (citizens, after all) will break once they're out of there and tell the truth of what they've seen? Or do they fear for their lives, too?

[cthrumatrix]

3. that's the FEMA --- outsource thanks to Bushcuts

[NYC]

5. Where did the first amendment go?

When you get to report only with permission, the first amendment can be considered totally abandoned.

[preciousdove]

6. They excluded the ham radios but forgot the bloggers

old dudes.