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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 and magazines. For the

past three years I have written a column for a small 14,000 circulation

weekly newspaper, The Hartford News. I reprint my column online at

www.the40yearplan.com, usually with photos.

On Jan. 3, 2007, I attended the Inaugural Parade for CT Gov. M. Jodi

Rell with the intention of taking photos for file, because you never

know when you will need a photo of the governor. During the process of

taking photos

<http://www.the40yearplan.com/article_010607_Gov_Rell_Caption_Contest.php>,

I was arrested by the Hartford Police Department allegedly for Breach of

Peace and Interfering with an Officer.

I identified myself as a journalist on multiple occasions during the

arrest process, but police ignored this level of identification. I was

held for 12 hours on $75,000 bond for the relatively minor charges, and

finally I was released on a promise to appear.

At my first court appearance on Friday, Jan. 5, my attorney removed the

matter from Community Court to Criminal Court, where next appearance is

Jan. 30, 2007. We are seeking that charges be dropped.


Dave Aeikens

LDF chairman


Print/online story links:
Some of the links to the Courant stories will expire by Friday afternoon, Jan. 12, 2007. The arrest report which neglects to mention my status as a journalist is linked to through any number of stories, mainly the Courant news stories.

State Man Called 'Threat' - 1/6/7 - By Mark Pazniokas (B1, above the fold on the web)
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctthreat0106.artjan06,0,623307.story?coll=hc-headlines-home

Rell Questions Arrest of Political Activist at Inaugural Parade - 1/8/7 - Associated Press
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-rel-active,0,7618314.story?track=mostviewedlink

A Lack of Intelligence - 1/9/7 - Editorial
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-krayeske.artjan09,0,439648.story?coll=hc-headlines-editorials

Asleep at the Inaugural - 1/9/7 - Column by Rick Green (B1)
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-rgreen0109.artjan09,0,303606.column?coll=hc-utility-home

rr: "Arrest Exposes State's Threat List"- 1/9/7 - By Gregory Hladky (A1)
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17686002&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=590581&rfi=6

Arrest of Activist Troubles Hartford Officials - 1/9/7 - by Jennifer Medina (B6 - Metro)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/nyregion/09rell.html

Mayor Asks Police to Review Activist's Arrest - 1/10/7 - By Tina A. Brown (B5)
http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ctkrayeske0110.artjan10,0,2760847.story?coll=hc-headlines-politics-state

Protecting Rell Serves Public, Too - 1/10/7 - Column by Stan Simpson (B1)
http://www.courant.com/news/local/columnists/hc-ctstan0110.artjan10,0,5928393.column?coll=hc-utility-home

Drop the Charges, Apologize: Free-lance journalist arrested during inaugural parade - 1/10/7 - Editorial
http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=bfdd4493-ed2c-47ed-a91a-58bebac6021c

Is Activism Illegal - 1/10/7 - Letters to the Editor
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/letters/hc-lets0110.artjan10,0,493531.story?page=2&coll=hc-headlines-letters

The Chill is On: Activist-Journalist Ken Krayeske gets arrests at Jodi Rell's Inauguration: Yup, more post-9/11 hysteria - 1/10/7 Column by Tom Gogola
http://www.ctnow.com/custom/nmm/fairfieldweekly/hce-fcw-0111-ff03-nc-fishingreport03.artjan11,0,2293509.story?coll=hce-headlines-fcw-advocate

As far as I can tell, the AP stories ran many, many places, among them the Waterbury Republican, the Stamford Advocate and the Danbury News-Times. The New Haven Register story ran in all of the Journal Register Company's papers in CT, including the Middletown Press, the Bristol Press, the New Britain Herald and the Register Citizen in Torrington.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=17987


Radio - Courant Columnist blogger Colin McEnroe owns the afternoon drive airtime from 3-6 every day on 1080AM WTIC. Colin has been discussing it every day since the story first broke Friday, Jan. 5.
http://blogs.courant.com/colin_mcenroe_to_wit/2007/01/pazs_story_toda.html
http://blogs.courant.com/colin_mcenroe_to_wit/2007/01/daylight_wanted.html
http://blogs.courant.com/colin_mcenroe_to_wit/2007/01/the_arrest.html
http://blogs.courant.com/colin_mcenroe_to_wit/2007/01/krayeske_contin.html
http://blogs.courant.com/colin_mcenroe_to_wit/2007/01/parade_of_quest.html
http://blogs.courant.com/colin_mcenroe_to_wit/2007/01/podcast.html

CTNewsJunkie.com broke the story online first by covering my arraignment hearing.
http://ctnewsjunkie.com/index.php/2007/01/05/reporter_arrested_for_political_activism
http://ctnewsjunkie.com/index.php/2007/01/06/reporter_s_photos_from_rell_s_parade
http://ctnewsjunkie.com/index.php/2007/01/07/don_t_rain_on_rell_s_parade
http://ctnewsjunkie.com/index.php/2007/01/08/legislative_leaders_question_reporter_ar
http://ctnewsjunkie.com/index.php/2007/01/09/big_brother_is_watching
http://ctnewsjunkie.com/index.php/2007/01/09/latest_news_on_report_arrest

Blogs (many more than this, but just a solid sampling)
http://connecticutlocalpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/01/monstrous-concessions.html
http://connecticutlocalpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/01/ken-krayeske-arrest-police-report-and.html
http://connecticutlocalpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/01/another-update-on-arrest-of-ken.html
http://connecticutlocalpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/01/commentary.html
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2007/01/your_antiterror_1.php
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/tag.do?tag=Ken+Krayeske
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5282
http://www.spazeboy.net/2007/01/rells-world/
http://www.orient-lodge.com/node/2121
http://ctbob.blogspot.com/2007/01/exclusive-video-interview-with-ken.html
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5210
http://stewart-rhodes.blogspot.com/2007/01/ct-govener-has-blogger-arrested-for.html
http://cooljustice.blogspot.com/
http://donpesci.blogspot.com/2007/01/krayeske-gets-noticed.html
http://timwhitelistens.blogspot.com/2007/01/police-state.html
http://scoop.epluribusmedia.org/story/2007/1/6/19636/49333

TV
WTNH-8, 1/8/7
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5907453&nav=menu29_2

Fox 61 TV News Report, 1/8/7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9fAC-QyBLI

CT-N (CT's version of C-Span) broadcast of House Judiciary Chairman State Rep. Mike Lawlor's Press Conference, 1/8/07
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPhlRUGMqFQ
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7G_gEyW2xE
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMfI1149UTg
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doh856xreGY

Published Thursday, January 11, 2007 12:02 PM by MikeKnaak

Comments

# re: Here's Ken Krayeske application for legal support

Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:39 AM by spazeboy
Can anyone contribute to the fund?  If so, how?

# re: Here's Ken Krayeske application for legal support

Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:55 AM by DaveAeikens
I do not believe a fund has been set up for Krayeske in particular. You can contribute to SPJ's legal defense fund by sending a check to this address: Eugene S. Pulliam National Journalism Center, 3909 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208
317/927-8000 | Fax: 317/920-4789
That money would be used to help all journalists. The committee is still deciding if it will provide a grant to Mr. Krayeske.

Dave Aeikens, LDF chairman.

# re: Here's Ken Krayeske application for legal support

Thursday, January 11, 2007 11:39 AM by Patricia Kane, Esq.
Your posting of a confidential application looks like a hostile act to me, as well as a violation of Ken's privacy. For a professional group to do this is beyond my understanding. It serves no public purpose and is inappropriate.
Let's not hear any wails from you when your privacy is violated.

# re: Here's Ken Krayeske application for legal support

Thursday, January 11, 2007 12:12 PM by DaveAeikens
No hostility intended. We are taking this request seriously. SPJ is an organization based on openness. In addition to believing that government actions should be open we believe our members have a right to know about our organizations's actions, including who is applying for LDF grants and under what circumstances. This is not a simple case. I have told Ken that.
My contact information is available on this blog and the SPJ site.

Dave Aeikens
LDF chairman

# re: Here's Ken Krayeske application for legal support

Thursday, January 11, 2007 12:17 PM by Mike Knaak
I'm not sure how posting the description of what happened can be hostile
The level of detail along with links to coverage is helpful for people who can't do firsthand investigation.
There should be a discussion of what happened based on the record and the facts. Krayeske's description aids that discussion.
As I wrote...there are two issues...standing on the street "armed" with a camera is not a hostile act. Journalist, bystander, political activist...doesn't matter. Taking photos should not get you arrested.
Is he a journalist? It doesn't matter. Should SPJ support him? Now it's time to discuss whether he's a journalist.
As to privacy...are you kidding. Krayeske has stepped into the public debate and is asking for a money from an organization that believes in open discussion.

# Krayeske Applies for Legal Support &raquo; spazeboy

Thursday, January 11, 2007 4:22 PM by Krayeske Applies for Legal Support » spazeboy
PingBack from http://www.spazeboy.net/2007/01/krayeske-applies-for-legal-support/

# re: Here's Ken Krayeske application for legal support

Thursday, January 11, 2007 5:25 PM by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell
I agree that I don't see how posting this application could be perceived as hostile. I'm at a loss to that comment. And I do agree that this is not a simple case. Nothing in journalism seems simple these days though. We have had to redefine ourselves by the advent of new media and therefore, have had to redefine our roles as independent journalists. In a way, this has been liberating in that "ordinary" people can become citizen journalists - something this country had really until "traditional media" was defined in the 19th & 20th centuries. I know a lot of independent journalists who don't subscribe to the theory of objectivity, but that does not make Ken is any less of a journalist because of it. I think what would not make him so is if he rose from "activist" to being paid for his work by the organization that opposes the Gov. If he was truly on a street corner, representing himself and his website as a citizen journalist, than I believe his application for LDF funds are warranted.
-Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell
National Committee Chair
SPJ Freelance Committee
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