03/01/2007
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Spinning out?
Created by
Laura Leslie
posted at 2007-03-01 15:44 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
posted at 2007-03-01 15:44 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
An update on Richard Moore vs. Broadcast Media:
To be fair, NC Press Association counsel Hugh Stevens says Moore is legally allowed to exclude anyone he wants from a briefing - as long as it doesn't fall under the open meetings law. But Stevens also points out it's discriminatory, ethically questionable, and overall, just a bad policy decision.
Down here at the press corps, we're as concerned about the precedent this might set as we are about what Moore has to say. Both are big stories. Uber-blogger Mark Binker (who also records sound) is covering it, too.
The latest:
Moore's media person Sara Lang sent me this e-mail this afternoon:
Laura,To which I responded:
I am asking that all reporters rely on "pad and pen" due to the location size and the number of potential attendees and in hopes of fostering an atmosphere of discussion. Treasurer Moore will be available after the briefing to provide sound and audio for those reporters that would like it.
Sara Y. Lang
Communications Director
Department of the State Treasurer
Media Line: 919-807-3132
919-508-5154
sara.lang@nctreasurer.com
Hi, Sara.
With all due respect, excluding a third of the press corps from being able to gather on-the-record information does not foster an atmosphere of discussion - and it's ethically inappropriate for a public servant in a public building, talking about how he's managing public dollars.
It's also implausible to think there's no room in the Albemarle Building large enough to accommodate cameras and microphones. That's never been a problem in the past, when you *wanted* broadcast coverage.
I'll be bringing my recording equipment. So will a lot of other radio and tv reporters. If you choose to throw us out, or bar us, we'll be recording that. And it'll be that story - not Moore's investment success - which will become the headline.
Laura
I haven't heard back yet from Lang, and I don't expect to. But I've heard plenty from other broadcast reporters who plan to be there, too. So we'll see (and hear) what happens tomorrow.
Comments? Drop me a line.
