I Just got this email! NOT GOOD! FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!! This session also has seen House Speaker Brian Egolf end Pastors doing the invocation before the session starts each day! I have spent much of my life in news, starting in 1978 at the Minnesota State News Network, FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!!! TRANSPARENCY!!! We deserve to know! Too much monkey business going on at the Roundhouse!
SPJ RIO GRANDE STANDS BY EVICTED REPORTER
The operative word in public information is “public.”
KRQE journalist Rachel Knapp was doing her job of reporting public information about public legislative proceedings when she was kicked out of a Senate committee meeting on Feb. 8. SPJ Rio Grande strongly believes all legislative proceedings must be open to the public, including the news media.
Some legislators cited a little-known and little-used exception to New Mexico Legislature transparency policies to exclude Knapp from covering the proceedings. She was not only asked to turn her camera off, she was asked to leave this public meeting, which was also a denial of her right to be there as a member of the public and a constituent.
SPJ Rio Grande joins NMFOG in supporting Senate Resolution 2 – a bill sponsored by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces) – to allow the public to record video and audio without having to get permission.
– This statement from the SPJ Rio Grande board was sent to members of the NM Legislature. Feel free to copy it and send it along as well.
Past Post from NM Watchman Jose Vasquez on Feb. 3rd:
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