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- SPJ calls on NBC to rectify lack of disclosure of analyst’s conflicts of interestYesterday
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For Immediate Release:
12/4/08
Contact:
Dave Aeikens, SPJ President, (320) 255-8744,
daeikens@stcloud.gannett.com
Andy Schotz, SPJ Ethics Committee Chairman, (240) 420-2993,
lawngyland@aol.com
Scott Leadingham, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (317) 927-8000 ext. 211, sleadingham@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee has issued a statement regarding Gen. Barry McCaffrey’s military analysis work for NBC:
The Society of Professional Journalists calls on NBC News President Steve Capus and NBC Nightly News Managing Editor Brian Williams to sever the network’s relationship with retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey to re-establish the integrity of its reporting on military-related issues, including the war in Iraq.
Gen. McCaffrey is knowledgeable about military matters. He served the United States in combat, has testified before Congress and teaches at the military academy at West Point. That is not the point.
When the retired general offers his insight on the air for NBC, CNBC and MSNBC, viewers are left with the impression he is an “objective” observer, a former military man speaking from the depths of his experience.
What the networks have failed to tell viewers is that McCaffrey has a financial interest in the war. His firm has earned millions of dollars in consulting fees from defense-oriented companies.
"By fa - SPJ supports Wisconsin newspapers’ appeal for access to public informationDecember 2
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For Immediate Release:
12/2/08
Contact:
Dave Aeikens, SPJ President, (320) 255-8744,
daeikens@stcloud.gannett.com
Scott Leadingham, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (317) 927-8000 ext. 211, sleadingham@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists has joined an amicus brief written by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press supporting two Wisconsin newspapers in their attempts to report information about infractions by public employees.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Lakeland Times sought the names of public employees who had lost the privilege to drive state-owned vehicles due to traffic violations. Because of bargaining agreements between public employee unions and the state of Wisconsin, the newspapers were denied the employees’ names. The agreements stipulate the state will not release the names of union members to other labor organizations or the press. Such information was previously available under the Wisconsin Open Records Law.
The brief was filed last week in the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
“Open records laws exist for a reason, namely to ensure citizens have access to information about government and where their tax dollars are going,” SPJ President Dave Aeikens said. “Changing such laws through bargaining agreements goes against the spirit of the First Amendment. The unions want to protect their employees, but that shouldn’t come at the - SPJ supports Indiana newspaper in appeal of $1.5 million libel suitNovember 24
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For Immediate Release:
11/24/08
Contact:
Dave Aeikens, SPJ President, (320) 255-8744,
daeikens@stcloud.gannett.com
Scott Leadingham, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (317) 927-8000 ext. 211, sleadingham@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists has joined other media organizations in an amicus brief initiated by the Hoosier State Press Association that defends the essential free press reporting rights of an Indiana newspaper.
On July 25, 2008, an Indiana jury awarded Clay County Deputy Sheriff Jeff Maynard $1.5 million, reasoning the Terre Haute Tribune-Star libeled the officer by printing an article that reported misconduct allegations a woman had made against him. The allegations were later found to be false.
The newspaper is appealing the verdict to the Indiana Court of Appeals. By supporting the newspaper in the amicus brief, SPJ agrees with the newspaper’s appeal that such a verdict fails to recognize the neutral reportage privilege. The privilege gives protection to journalists who neutrally report allegations between two parties, even if the allegations are later proven untrue.
“This situation is disturbing,” SPJ President Dave Aeikens said. “You have a newspaper being sued because it accurately reported about a complaint against a law enforcement officer. It is critical to the public interest that journalists be able to report issues from the public rec - SPJ urges President-elect Obama to continue support for media shield lawNovember 21
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For Immediate Release:
11/20/08
Contact:
Dave Aeikens, SPJ President, (320) 255-8744,
daeikens@stcloud.gannett.com
Scott Leadingham, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (317) 927-8000 ext. 211, sleadingham@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists, the nation’s most broad-based journalism-advocacy organization, encourages President-elect Barack Obama to make good on a campaign promise to support a bill that would protect journalists and their confidential sources.
The Free Flow of Information Act, informally known as the Federal Shield Law, would protect journalists who choose not to reveal their confidential sources, even when compelled by court action. A notable exception is when such information compromises national security. While campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination in April, Obama said during the annual meeting of the Associated Press that he supported the proposed legislation. He became a cosponsor of S. 2035, the bill’s number in the Senate, on April 14, 2008. Links to several news articles that highlight Obama’s support are included at the end of this release.
“We call on the President-elect to make good on his campaign comments that he will continue to support the passage of a federal shield law,” SPJ President Dave Aeikens said. “This is a critical piece of legislation to continue to assure the flow of information.”
The legislati - SPJ Announces Sponsorship Agreement with Getty ImagesNovember 18
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For Immediate Release:
11/18/2008
Contact:
Scott Leadingham, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-927-8000 ext. 211, sleadingham@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce a sponsorship agreement with Getty Images that will extend through November 2009. Under the agreement, Getty will donate up to $30,000 worth of imagery from its libraries of photo and video content. The agreement makes Getty the official imagery sponsor of SPJ.
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well- informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.-END-