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CT SPJ urges journalists in state to review, speak out on several bills

The Government Administration and Elections Committee’s March 7 public hearing includes legislation that, as written, would greatly expand when a public board or agency could call an executive session (HB 5501).  The proposal would allow public officials to close off meetings from the public for any consultation with an attorney of the public agency concerning legal matters. This is a tremendous expansion beyond what is currently allowed under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

A second piece of legislation (HB 5512) would allow municipalities to charge additional fees whenever someone files a FOI request for commercial purposes. The bill expressly states that journalists are exempt from the legislation, although it doesn’t define what constitutes a news outlet. Additional, this bill goes against the FOI Act, which does not grant a public agency to consider the intent of a requester, and this proposal would thus go against the spirit of the FOI Act. The bill also appears to give tremendous flexibility to how much a town can charge, making it potentially cost prohibitive for a requester whose intentions are deemed to be for commercial purposes. Lastly, this bill sets a dangerous precedent in chipping away at the public’s ability to easily access information.

GAE will also hear comments on a proposal requiring the preservation of and improving access to some historical records of value (HB 5499). The bill would improve access to some government records of value, including medical records. This would allow for a better examination on the way certain health ailments or conditions were treated in the past, as well as how the medical history of historically significant people may have affected their actions.

The committee’s hearing begins at 1 p.m., or written testimony can be sent to   gaetestimony@cga.ct.gov

Testimony Sought for FOI BILLS

Connecticut SPJ’s Board of Directors strongly urges journalists and news outlets to submit testimony during public hearings this week on a number of proposed bills that affect public access to information.

The Government Administration and Elections Committee’s March 7 public hearing includes legislation that, as written, would greatly expand when a public board or agency could call an executive session (HB 5501). The proposal would allow public officials to close off meetings from the public for any consultation with an attorney of the public agency concerning legal matters. This is a tremendous expansion beyond what is currently allowed under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

A second piece of legislation (HB 5512) would allow municipalities to charge additional fees whenever someone files a FOI request for commercial purposes. The bill expressly states that journalists are exempt from the legislation, although it doesn’t define what constitutes a news outlet. Additional, this bill goes against the FOI Act, which does not grant a public agency to consider the intent of a requester, and this proposal would thus go against the spirit of the FOI Act. The bill also appears to give tremendous flexibility to how much a town can charge, making it potentially cost prohibitive for a requester whose intentions are deemed to be for commercial purposes. Lastly, this bill sets a dangerous precedent in chipping away at the public’s ability to easily access information.

GAE will also hear comments on a proposal requiring the preservation of and improving access to some historical records of value (HB 5499). The bill would improve access to some government records of value, including medical records. This would allow for a better examination on the way certain health ailments or conditions were treated in the past, as well as how the medical history of historically significant people may have affected their actions.

The committee’s hearing begins at 1 p.m., or written testimony can be sent to gaetestimony@cga.ct.gov

The Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee will hear testimony during its March 8 public hearing on a bill that would moderately expand the amount of information that the University of Connecticut Foundation is required to make publicly available (SB 333). It would allow the foundation, though, to otherwise maintain its statutory exemption from the FOI Act.

Testimony can be sent to HEDtestimony@cga.ct.gov

New Britain Herald and Bristol Press publisher apologizes

New Britain Herald and Bristol Press publisher and editor Michael Schroeder published a note to his readers on Jan. 5.

The note apologizes for the Dec. 2 story about “Nevada-style business court system.” Schroeder had been involved in the purchase of the Las Vegas Review-Journal until the previous day when he was removed by GateHouse Media, which still manages the paper.

Connecticut SPJ email issue

Free screening Nov. 11 of “Spotlight” movie in West Hartford

Seating is limited. Reserve your seat by clicking here.

Nov. 11 free screening of “Spotlight”

TrendCT and Central Connecticut State University are inviting local journalists and data enthusiasts for a screening of “Spotlight” at Criterion Cinemas at Blue Back Square, West Hartford.

Congratulations to Connecticut journalists named NEFAC fellows

The New England First Amendment Coalition announced its newest class of fellows for the New England First Amendment Institute this month.

Five of the 25 fellows this year are from Connecticut. They are Lindsay Boyle from The Day in New London, Suzanne Carlson from the Hartford Courant, Susan Haigh from the Associated Press, Esteban Hernandez from the New Haven Register and Patrick Skahill from WNPR.

“This free institute is open each year to 25 New England journalists and provides the support and training necessary to become accomplished investigative reporters, well-versed in the freedom of information laws that govern today’s difficult reporting landscape,” the coalition news release stated.

SPJ Region 1 Director Volunteer Position Available

There’s a vacancy for the SPJ’s Region 1 director position following last month’s election of Rebebba Baker to the organization’s secretary/treasurer.

The region 1 position, which serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, central and eastern Pennslyvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, goes until Sept. 20, 2016.

Interested candidates must live in Region 1 territory and be a SPJ member and not a student nor associate member.

Interested candidates should fill out a form on SPJ’s website no later than Oct. 19.

Petition Demands Defunding of The Argus

Wesleyan University students senators want to defund the student newspaper, the Wesleyan Argus, after a column critiqued the Black Lives Matter movement. A meeting is scheduled for Sept. 27 to support the student senate’s petition.

Here’s what Connecticut SPJ president Paul Singley had to say in an Argus story:

Paul Singley

Paul Singley, President of the Connecticut Society for Professional Journalists, said he believes that student publications should make a concerted effort to represent the perspectives of all students, but its First Amendment rights should not be threatened by publishing unpopular views.

“That’s what a good newspaper does,” he said. “It shares ideas, it shares opinions.”

Read the full story here.

Meet Lynn Schnier

Lynn Schnier works for Hearst Newspapers.