Press-freedom advocates are raising the alarm that the arrests of the Atmore News’s publisher and reporter is unconstitutional.
By Paul Farhi, The Washington PostA newspaper publisher and a reporter have been arrested for publishing an article that officials said was based on confidential grand-jury evidence - a move that press-freedom advocates are characterizing as an unconstitutional attack on the news media.
While it’s illegal for a grand juror, witness or court officer to disclose grand-jury proceedings, it’s not a crime for a media outlet to publish such leaked material, provided the material was obtained by legal means, legal experts said. Jane Kirtley, a professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, said the Atmore arrests follow a number of other recent cases in which local prosecutors have used warrants, threats and criminal proceedings to harass or pressure journalists.Such prosecutions can be costly, especially for small news organizations, she said.
The attorney, who represents both Digmon and Fletcher, didn’t respond to a request for comment. Nor did Billy. The Committee to Protect Journalists, a press-advocacy organization, called on local authorities to drop all charges against the newspaper, Digmon and Fletcher.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Local journalists arrested in small Alabama town for grand jury storyPress freedom advocates are raising the alarm that the arrest of the Atmore News’s publisher and reporter is unconstitutional
Les mer »
Small-town Alabama newspaper publisher, reporter arrested for reporting confidential grand jury infoAlabama-based Atmore News owner Sherry Digmon and reporter Donald Fletcher have been arrested for allegedly publishing an article that disclosed grand jury information.
Les mer »
Alabama newspaper publisher and reporter arrested, charged with disclosing grand jury secretsA press freedom group called on the charges to be dropped against Atmore News publisher and co-owner Sherry Digmon and reporter Don Fletcher.
Les mer »
LSU ended Alabama football’s playoff hopes in 2022. Now, it’s ‘Very personal’ for the TideAlabama players said this year's LSU game is personal after last season's loss.
Les mer »