In an unprecedented raid Friday, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office, the newspaper's reporters, and the publisher's home.
n response to the police raid on The Marion County Record newspaper in Kansas, PEN America issued the following statement: "Journalists rely on confidential sources to report on matters of vital public concern. Law enforcement's sweeping raid on The Marion County Record and confiscation of its equipment almost certainly violates federal law and puts the paper's very ability to publish the news in jeopardy. Such egregious attempts to interfere with news reporting cannot go unchecked in a democracy. Law enforcement can, and should, be held accountable for any violations of The Record's legal rights."
WASHINGTON, August 12 – Following is a statement from Eileen O’Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the reported raid of the Marion County Record offices on Friday and seizure of reporting materials by local law enforcement authorities executing a search warrant. “We are shocked and outraged by this brazen violation of press freedom by authorities in Marion County, Kansas. Local law enforcement agencies reportedly searched the offices of the Marion County Record and the home of its publisher, and seized reporting materials including computers and cell phones, injuring a reporter’s finger in the process. “We are deeply concerned that a Kansas judge issued a search warrant authorizing this search even though the federal law clearly requires authorities to use subpoenas rather than search warrants if they seek to access records of a news organization in the course of an investigation. “A law enforcement raid of a newspaper office is deeply upsetting anywhere in the world. It is especially concerning in the United States, where we have strong and well-established legal protections guaranteeing the freedom of the press. “This search violated the rights of the journalists at the Marion County Record to serve their community by gathering and reporting the news. We stand by the Marion County Record in its efforts to continue publishing despite the seizure of important reporting material and equipment. We demand local authorities return the reporting equipment to the Marion County Record immediately, and we expect a full investigation by appropriate state and federal authorities into why this search warrant was requested, authorized and executed.” Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide. The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged, global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with the skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. The NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club. Contact: Bill McCarren, National Press Club, [email protected], (202) 662-7534
An exam on the constitution for prospective law enforcement officers might help. No sign of understanding the spirit and meaning of the first amendment here.
LE gets to slap flags on uniforms like a scout's patch only _after_ getting a 90+?
Anyway, as it stands now LE is clearly not up to speeed. Servicing the needs of an individual at the expense of the press and the greater good of the public is squarely on the target of what freedom of the press is supposed to address.
Great that this case is getting so much attention.
Not great that so many others do not.
https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/20/kansas-newspaper-raid-draws-plenty-of-attention-but-journalists-defy-threats-across-u-s/
The Marion County case is one of the most egregious, but more mundane attacks can put good papers out of business.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/15/business/media/antigay-slur-wausau-pilot-review.html?unlocked_article_code=9DQbiYZ7uOYKHZpOslutlxRR3RwtwISd26eFoYdgmAr3h5Ism3kxT-kyl_hsFhE2IBU3smn_4iRxlnNTuR2v7WIA8b9VHG5xzemxB3t1m6jWegK0evci-mCfjEqNbHerjuuWXvwfPNo5QVgWTe6PjGnYI-bw0wFEje3fDrTvFOJalZNYMLBbyZ8JHyLfkUHPbxvPZi4o5njv08JsjqHAo3f5AmFF_kSUtQXUFT4aEEvweskKPO3x7pGzhDROhm9Kbs_-I4hc3e2xz4wPBxMoYsnAxf7uWA0qbQluKR9LFKIzk_2ymIV2nLml-RIZeWewF_FnHmKI3cFOTHmQ-bvmjivYiqP70q0rnDS2jg0S3iAA&smid=url-share
@wausaupilot
#Journalism #1A #LocalNews
the kkkoup continues ...
Way to "keep it quiet", Chief: do something ill-advised and make it to the national news cycle! Wait 'til @ProPublica or some other big investigative outlet gets hold of it. That will make things a lot more fun and interesting.
The Record never printed the allegations of sexual misconduct from coworkers in his previous job against the Police Chief – on this current job for only 2 months – b/c they cldn't get anyone to go on the record, but "the allegations—including the identities of who made the allegations—were on one of the computers that got seized." #Marion #Kansas
@MichaelPorter @ap236 @w7voa @Paulatics @dangillmor
But not to far away and if Trump gets elected we will be. 🥴
@w7voa So where's the backstory on this? Obviously they pissed someone powerful off, but who and why? Name and shame (and sue.)
The cops are way too eager to send a SWAT team where a polite knock would do.
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