Steve HermanAug 12, 2023
Police raid #Kansas newspaper. https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/police-stage-chilling-raid-on-marion-county-newspaper-seizing-computers-records-and-cellphones/
Police stage 'chilling' raid on Marion County newspaper, seizing computers, records and cellphones • Kansas Reflector

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.

Kansas Reflector
Show threadSteve HermanAug 12, 2023
Publisher Eric Meyer says his newspaper in #Kansas had been investigating the local police chief prior to the raids on his office and home. https://thehandbasket.substack.com/p/a-conversation-with-the-newspaper
A conversation with the newspaper owner raided by cops

Eric Meyer says his paper had been investigating the police chief prior to the raids on his office and home.

The Handbasket
Show threadSteve HermanAug 13, 2023
“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.” - PEN America’s journalism and disinformation program director, Shannon Jankowski. https://pen.org/press-release/pen-america-police-raid-on-kansas-newspaper-almost-certainly-violates-federal-law/
PEN America: Police Raid on Kansas Newspaper "Almost Certainly" Violates Federal Law

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."

PEN America
Show threadSteve HermanAug 13, 2023
“Marion city police and the Marion County sheriff’s office did something on Friday that no government agency in America has any right to do. They shut down a newspaper.” - Wichita Eagle and KC Star editorial boards https://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article278199777.html#storylink=cpy
Show threadSteve HermanAug 13, 2023
“Stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief after illegal police raids on her home and the Marion County Record newspaper office Friday, 98-year-old newspaper co-owner Joan Meyer, otherwise in good health for her age, collapsed Saturday afternoon and died at her home. https://tinyurl.com/y6uda5n7
UPDATED: Illegal raids contribute to death of newspaper co-owner<!---->

UPDATED: Illegal raids contribute to death of newspaper co-owner<!---->, from Marion County Record for Aug. 12, 2023

Marion County Record
Show threadSteve HermanAug 13, 2023
“Although news organizations are sometimes the targets of legal actions by government officials, including subpoenas seeking interview notes and other records, the search and seizure of the tools to produce journalism are rare.” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/13/business/media/kansas-marion-newspaper-police-raid.html #Kansas
Police Raid Kansas Newspaper Office

The search of Marion County Record’s office led to the seizure of computers, servers and cellphones of reporters and editors.

The New York Times
Show threadSteve HermanAug 13, 2023
Reporters Without Borders issues a statement about the August 11th police raid on the Marion County Record in which the #Kansas newspaper’s devices and reporting materials were confiscated.
Show threadSteve HermanAug 14, 2023
The Marion County, #Kansas newspaper raid story has gone international. @BBCWorld reporting on it now.
Show threadSam Wade
@w7voa Guardian reported yesterday, and again today:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/12/police-raid-local-kansas-newspaper-office-and-homes-of-reporters
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/13/marion-county-record-co-owner-joan-meyer-dies-kansas-police-raid
Police raid local Kansas newspaper office and homes of reporters

City’s entire five-officer police force seize computers, cellphones and reporting materials from Marion County Record

The Guardian
Aug 14, 2023 at 12:28amWeb