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January 2007 - Posts

Wednesday, January 31, 2007 4:41 PM

Grambling Editor Still Fighting

    The editor of the student newspaper at Grambling State University says he will ask the school to drop prior review of the Gramblinite and adopt a policy that protects students' freedom of expression.     Darryl Smith
posted by NeilRalston | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:26 PM

Krayeske pleads not guilty

Ken Krayekse of Hartford was in court Tuesday on charges he interferred with police. He has another court appearance in March. He was arrested Jan. 3 while taking pictures of the governor's inaugural parade. Read some of the reports:Hartford Courant,
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:18 PM

Josh Wolf loses another appeal

The saga fo freelance journalist and blogger Joshua Wolf continues. A judge has denied his appeal. The judge is standing strong on the the 1972 Supreme Count ruling forcing reporters to testify when called before grand juries. Wolf is the recipient of
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 4:06 PM

SPJ supports effort to overturn court decision in Maryland

The Society of Professional Journalists has signed on to an amicus brief in Forensic Advisors v. Matrixx, a case that's in front of Maryland's highest court, the Court of Appeals.   SPJ lawyer Laurie Babinski of Baker and Hostetler provides
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 11:37 AM

Olson-related charges dropped

Sarah Olson is an independent journalist who the military wants to testify about a lieutenant who refused to go to Iraq. The Tacoma News-Tribune has latest in the story. It's been a case that SPJ has been all over. The Freedom of Information Committee
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Sunday, January 28, 2007 6:36 PM

Reporter comments not 'actual malice'

As Gannett legal counsel Barbara Wall explains, reporter comments are not necessarily proof of actual malice. This Georgia case is a good ruling for journalists.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Saturday, January 27, 2007 7:14 PM

Grambling Case Attracts a Lot of Attention

The controversy over the student newspaper at Grambling State University in Louisiana has attracted a lot of attention from newspapers and journalism groups. Richard Prince, in his "Journal-Isms" column published on the Maynard Institute web site,
posted by NeilRalston | 0 Comments
Friday, January 26, 2007 5:35 PM

Suspension Lifted at Grambling, but Controls Imposed

Administrators at Grambling State University are allowing the student newspaper, The Gramblinite, to resume publication, but only if the university gets to look over stories before they're published.In an article published in the Monroe (La.) News Star,
posted by NeilRalston | 0 Comments
Friday, January 26, 2007 3:14 PM

Phil Donahue speaks about Sarah Olson

The former talk show host writes about Sarah Olson, the independent journalist whose has the military seeking information from her interview with Ehren Watada, on Counterpunch. Watada is a soldier facing a court martial. SPJ has
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 25, 2007 3:30 PM

LDF committee decision on Krayeske grant request on hold

Ken Krayeske, the Hartford independent journalist and political activist, has raised enough money to pay his first round of legal bills. So his LDF request is on hold unless his case continues beyond four court appearance. At that point, he has been told
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 25, 2007 2:06 AM

Grambling Provost Halts Student Newspaper

The student newspaper at Grambling State University in Louisiana has stopped publication on the orders of a school provost. According to an article in the Monroe (La.) News Star, Provost Robert Dixon said he was stopping publication of the
posted by NeilRalston | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 3:41 AM

Changes on the Way at the Daily Trojan

Less than two months after a student resigned as editor of the Daily Trojan at the University of Southern California, a vice president at the school has agreed to make the newspaper's budget more transparent and provide the editor in chief more access
posted by NeilRalston | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:31 AM

Hartford chief defends Krayeske arrest

A public safety committee in the Connecticut Legislature conducted a hearing Tuesday on the arrest of Ken Krayeske, who was taken into custody while taking pictures at the inaugural parade. The AP has this report . WTNH TV has this. The Hartford
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 12:04 PM

Connecticut Legislature has hearing on arrest today.

The Connecticut Public Safety and Security Committee is having an informational hearing from 12:30 to 4 p.m. today in Hartford. It is expected to spend some time on the arrest of Ken Krayeske, who was arrested Jan. 3 while taking pictures of
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Monday, January 22, 2007 1:56 PM

Libby trial could impact reporting methods

The New York Times explores how the trial of Scooter Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, has had an affect on how reporters and sources interact. After Judith Miller spent time in jail for refusing to disclose her sources, the
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Sunday, January 21, 2007 8:03 PM

Talking in Memphis: Josh Wolf's mom continues the fight

Our old friend Josh Wolf is still in prison. His mom, Liz Wolf-Spadea was in Memphis for a conference trying to bring attention to his plight. She spoke to Chris Peck, editor of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. Wolf is the recipient of the
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, January 19, 2007 3:10 PM

Congress asks AG to end inquiry into SF reporters

Here is the latest on the two SF Chronicle reporters who the government wants to reveal their sources. The LA Times has the story. A Congressman is stepping in.  Society of Professional Journalists is supporting the two reporters.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, January 19, 2007 11:37 AM

The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists strongly opposes efforts by the Blue Earth County Attorney to obtain notes

From the Minnesota Pro Chapter:   PRESS RELEASE   January 18, 2007 Contact: Art Hughes Minnesota SPJ President cell: 612-280-0560     The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists strongly opposes efforts by the Blue
posted by MikeKnaak | 0 Comments
Friday, January 19, 2007 11:29 AM

Hartford paper: Police printed Krayeske flier

The Hartford Courant has this story about police printing fliers with pictures of Ken Krayeske, suggesting he might cause trouble at the governor's inaugural. The Legislature is set to have a hearing Jan. 23. Krayeske's fundraiser is tonight. (See
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 18, 2007 11:13 AM

Prosecutor subpoenas reporters, editor in Minnesota

In Mankato, Minnesota, a prosecutor is seeking to subpoena the editor and two reportera for the Mankato Free Press. The paper interviewed by phone a man who was holed up in his house in a standoff with police. Two officers were shot and the man eventually
posted by DaveAeikens | 1 Comments
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 10:07 PM

Student Free-Press Bill Moves Forward

    A proposal to improve the press rights of student journalists in Washington state got a big boost recently when 19 legislators agreed to co-sponsor HB 1307.     If the bill becomes state law, it would be the first to
posted by NeilRalston | 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:23 AM

Fundraiser for Krayeske

A fundraiser for Ken Krayeske is being set up by some of his friends and supporters. Free Kenny Legal Defense Fund Bash, Friday Who? You! And as many freedom loving friends as you can bring! What? The Free Kenny Legal Defense Fund Bash for Ken Krayeske,
posted by MikeKnaak | 2 Comments
Monday, January 15, 2007 12:55 PM

NY Times looks at conflict in Santa Barbara

This situation has led to a lawsuit against an American Journalism Review reporter. The New York Times takes a look at Wendy McCaw here.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Monday, January 15, 2007 11:43 AM

Connecticut paper examines Krayeske situation

SPJ's Legal Defense Fund gets a brief mention in the story. It includes a debate among journalism professors about the Jan. 3 arrest of Ken Krayeske, whose mix of journalism, activism and opinionated blogging have created a complex situation. The
posted by DaveAeikens | 1 Comments
Sunday, January 14, 2007 3:16 PM

Judge dismisses case against NY Times

The libel suit from researcher Stephen Hatfill against the New York Times is being dismissed. It's a case SPJ has been involved in. The Washington Post has the story here.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Friday, January 12, 2007 11:24 AM

State shield law protects Pennsylvania journalist

It's working in Pennsylvania. A court ruled that reporters in Scranton were protected from revealing sources even if a crime was committed in revealing grand jury testimony. Gannett legal counsel Barbara Wall has an explanation here. 
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 11, 2007 2:40 PM

SPJ to appoint committee in Krayeske matter

At the request of national President Christine Tatum, I have asked Region 1 Director Carolyn James to come up with a list of names of people who can help with some more fact finding as the LDF committee decides whether to issue a grant
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 11, 2007 1:48 PM

SF reporters ask for jail sentence to be tossed

Here is the latest on the two reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle who are being pressured to reveal who leaked them confidential grand jury information.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 11, 2007 12:04 PM

Guilty of committing photography

If Krayeske's description of the incident is accurate, he's only guilty of taking photographs in public. That's not a crime.As a photojournalist, I'm troubled that he can be arrested for taking photos....whether he's a journalist or not in this
posted by MikeKnaak | 1 Comments
Thursday, January 11, 2007 12:02 PM

Krayeske application under consideration

Ken Krayeske has applied for a LDF grant and the committee is looking into the mater. Here is a summary of the events from Krayeske: I am a freelance journalist with more than 17 years of experience writing and photographing events for newspapers
posted by MikeKnaak | 7 Comments
Wednesday, January 10, 2007 1:35 PM

Krayeske arrest draws much attention

One of the neat things about having a blog for the LDF committee is that we can provide updates about issues we are working on and others can see it and have a say. A Connecticut crime blogger has posted on our interest in Ken Krayeske, the freelance
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 10, 2007 1:29 PM

Judge says no to releasing Libby trial audio

In a  case that we have been follwing at the LDF and our blog because of the journalist involvemet, a judge has rejected the request to release audio. The New York Times has the latest details and a nice history of the case. Feel free to comment
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 09, 2007 12:14 PM

Freelancer's arrest causes stir in Connecticut

SPJ is looking into the arrest of a Hartford freelance journalist. Ken Krayeske was taking pictures at the governor's inaugural when he was arrested, supposedly for being a political activist. Krayeske is a Green Party activist and worked on behalf of
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Monday, January 08, 2007 5:05 PM

SPJ and others call for public access to Libby trial

This is a post from new LDF subcommittee member Julie Kay of south Florida: The Society of Professional Journalists has joined the Associated Press, The Washington Post, Cable News Network and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in calling
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Sunday, January 07, 2007 6:38 PM

More trouble by the bay

The military is seeking the sources of freelance journalist Sarah Olson. Yet another case in the San Francisco and Oakland area. The SF Chronicle has the story here. SPJ is helping with this case.
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 02, 2007 2:38 PM

Journalists involved in leak case

The last thing most journalists want to do is testify to what their sources told them. It sounds like there were be many on the spot in the Scooter Libby case, which the former chief of staff for the vice president is accused of lying under oath. The
posted by DaveAeikens | 0 Comments