D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams will deliver the annual “State of the District” speech next Monday at 7 p.m. from the Lincoln Theatre on U Street NW. In District politics, this is about as big as it gets, and DCist only naturally wants in on the action.

There has been a lively debate in recent months over what, if anything, bloggers do. Are they journalists? Should they be granted similar access to media events? Can they claim protections and priveleges granted only to legitimate journalists? Did they really just say that? This debate has only intensified with the role blogs have played in the newest of the -gates — Rathergate, Easongate, Gannongate, and so on.

Garrett Graff of Fishbowl DC changed the rules of the media game last week when he became the first blogger in history to set foot in what has been perceived as the journalistic Holy Grail — a White House press briefing. Will they, real journalists around the country gasped while pointing at a disheveled group of bloggers, be allowed in to all of our press conferences and briefings, on our campaign planes and trains, and get the cool laminated passes that offer us unimaginable access to the rich and powerful?

DCist respects the work real journalists do — after all, blogs wouldn’t be much of anything if it weren’t for their tendency to link to and criticize legitimate news pieces.

But now DCist wants in on the action. Access to State of the District speech is restricted to those fortunate enough to receive tickets or be lucky enough to be credentialed journalists. DCist is neither, though we believe we have enough to offer with our inquisitive minds, sarcastic demeanors, and generally acceptable appearances to justify being invited into the Lincoln Theatre.

Calls will be made, letters will be sent, and threats liberally employed. But if any regular DCist readers (Mayor Williams?) have a less painful way of making us the first bloggers to attend the State of the District speech, please let us know.

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