Report: Sun layoffs imminent

Citybizlist Baltimore is reporting that another round of job cuts are looming at The Sun.

This time in the form of an undisclosed number of layoffs and not buyouts.

Four months ago The Sun bought out 100 employees across the Baltimore Sun Media Group, which includes at community newspaper chain. About 60 of those cuts were in the newsroom.

Nominations being accepted

The SPJ Maryland Pro Chapter is accepting nominations for officers (president, vice president, secretary and treasurer) for the coming year.

Any chapter member in good standing is eligible to run. You must be paid up in your national and chapter dues in order to run.

Descriptions of each position are contained within the recently approved chapter bylaws.

If interested, please forward your name to me or chapter vice president Sarah Breitenbach along with the position you wish to run for and a brief description of your professional/organizational experience and why you want to serve in the chosen position. You may also provide a photo. This information will be provided to chapter members prior to the election. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 31.

Elections will be held the week of Nov. 17 through 21.

Also, if you are not sure you have the time to serve as an officer, please consider helping with chapter projects. We have several in the works including the awards banquet, scholarship committee as well as Sunshine and Ethics Weeks projects for the spring. You could help run chapter elections. Even if you only have a few minutes each week there are things you can do to help the chapter.

Thanks and good luck.

Happy Birthday, FNP

Have a slice of cake and sing Happy Birthday to the Frederick News-Post.

The Frederick County-based daily turns 125-years old today.

The paper opines on the occasion here.

Bylaws

Just a quick not to let everyone know the chapter now has bylaws.

They were passed this evening with a few amendments some technical and others that I think will make the chapter run better than ever and provide a measure of accountability for the members of the chapter.

A copy of the document was e-mailed earlier this evening to the national society. This brings the chapter into full compliance with the National Society's requirements.

By the end of the night you should be receiving the bylaws via e-mail. They'll also be available on the chapter Web site — www.spj.org/mdpro — and I'll update this post with a link to the document when it is posted.

I encourage all of you get a copy and feel free to contact me or any other officer if there are any questions.

Next up for the chapter is elections which will include open nominations for all four officer positions. I encourage everyone to think about running for an office or helping the chapter set up and promote future events or work on open government and First Amendment issues.

Blurring the picture

Couple of stories that tie into yesterday's post about the state's public information laws.

Here's a link to a story in The Sun today by Peter Hermann that explains how the public is ultimately hurt when law enforcement officials start withholding more and more information about crimes.

And another written by me for the Towson Times about charges for police reports in Baltimore County and some other jurisdictions. Most alarming is the policy of some departments to require people to explain why they want a public document. And a related post on the society's Freedom of Information Committee blog.

It could be worse but it could definitely be better

If you missed the article in this month's Quill or just haven't read it yet, there is a reminder of how badly we need to look at reforming Maryland's Public Information Act.

A 2007 survey by the Better Government Association and the National Freedom of Information Coalition ranks Maryland 11th with a grade of D (D- if you look at the percentage grade).

The study looked at all 50 states. No state received a grade of A. Nebraska and New Jersey both came close, tying with an 87 percent. Thirty-eight states received a grade of F with Alabama and South Dakota finishing at the bottom with perfect goose eggs.

It's a curious situation where the state's letter grade actually dropped but its overall position improved over the last study which was released in 2002.

In that study, six states received a grade of B. Eight states graded at an F (Alabama and South Dakota received zeroes then, too). Everyone else fell in between.

There's still work to be done here in the Free State.

Maryland only received half the total points possible for Response Time, Appeals, Expedited Reviews and Sanctions. Those are good places to start and maybe we should look to Nebraska and New Jersey to show the way to improve. Nebraska scored 100 percent on Response Time, Appeals and Sanctions.

One thing is clear, it's getting tougher to keep government transparent.

Need for Bylaws

The last year as president has been quite the challenge and a learning experience.

Nothing has symbolized that more than when the Sarah, Justin and I learned from national that MD Pro Chapter has been operating without chapter bylaws for possibly as long as a decade.

National requires all chapters to have them. They can be as simple or elaborate as you can imagine. Believe me, over the last few months, I've read more than my share form chapters large and small all over the country.

By now, you should have received a draft copy of bylaws for our chapter. As the principal drafter, I believe these bylaws give us a good solid start as we move forward with revitalizing the chapter.

Per my conversations with national leaders including Dave Aeikens, the newly sworn in national president, I have promised to deliver bylaws after the next meeting of the chapter officers.

I invite you all to read this document carefully as it guides our little democracy here in Maryland.

After reading it, please feel free to e-mail me or any of the other officers with questions or comments. You can also leave your comments here on the blog and we'll answer them for everyone else to see and comment on.

The officers will vote on these bylaws when we meet on Oct. 7 at Panera in Towson, 1238 Putty Hill Avenue, Towson, MD 21286.

State board looks at 'pre-meetings'

The Baltimore Examiner reports that the state's Open Meetings Compliance Board is reviewing a complaint about pre-meetings held by two members of the Board of Public Works — Gov. Martin O'Malley and state Treasurer Nancy Kopp.

Mark your calendars

The Changing World of Journalism: From Teletype to Twitter...Where Do We Go From Here?

Sponsors: (Host) University of Maryland Student Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists; SPJ Washington Professional Chapter; SPJ Maryland Pro Chapter; Washington RTNDA Chapter

When: Monday, Oct. 6 6:30 - 9p

Where: University of Maryland, College Park
Plant Science Building, Room 1140
http://www.parking.umd.edu/themap/

This location is within easy walking distance from the Metro shuttle on campus and is across the street from a parking garage.


Who: Moderator: Jerry Zremski, Bureau Chief, Buffalo News, Immediate Past President National Press Club

Panelists:

• Mark Miller, News Director, WBAL Radio

• Leslie Walker, Knight Visiting Professor in Digital Innovation, Philip Merrill College of Journalism; former columnist/reporter The Washington Post and former editor washingtonpost.com

• Kevin Blackistone, Povich Chair, Philip Merrill College of Journalism; contributor to Politico, columnist for AOL Sports, commentator for National Public Radio and former reporter for the Dallas Morning News

RSVP to Sue Kopen Katcef susiekk@aol.com

FYI...the lecture hall seats 100.

This program is part of a nationwide celebration of the National Press Club's 100th anniversary and, as such, will feature an excerpt from the organization's special documentary, "A Century of Headlines." Copies of the documentary will be distributed to those attending the program.

Facebook group

The chapter has started a new Facebook group called (appropriately enough) SPJ Maryland Pro Chapter.

If you're on Facebook.com or considering it, I'd urge you to join the chapter group.

It's one more way for you to keep tabs on your chapter and one more way for us to get information out to you about upcoming events.

Oh, and there was business, too

Sarah and I inadvertently appear on the cover of this mornings SPJ Working Press doing what reporters at conventions and any where else love to do — get something to eat.

The photo was taken at the Opening Night reception and silent/live auction to benefit the Legal Defense Fund.

Had to leave in order to resist bidding on a chair signed by Washington Post Editor Ben Bradley, Woodward and Bernstein and others. All of the signatures came from the panel at last year's convention. And the chairs were actually used by one of the signers.

Way out of this journalist's price range.

Green Thumb award revisited and off to Atlanta

It's been mentioned here before but here is the official announcement about the award the Maryland Pro Chapter will receive in Atlanta this weekend.

Sarah Breitenbach and I are off to Atlanta to attend the business meetings and cast the chapter's three votes in this year's election.

Updates as warranted.

MD Pro chapter to be honored in Atlanta

For those who haven't seen the chapter's announcement:

The Maryland Pro Chapter has been awarded one of three "Green Thumb" awards for growing chapter membership during the last year.

John Ensslin, out-going chairman of the the society's national Membership Committee, announced the award in an Aug. 28 e-mail.

The awards will be presented to chapter President Bryan Sears and Vice President Sarah Breitenbach on Sept. 6 at the national convention in Atlanta.

This is the first year for the awards which are given to student and professional chapters that post the highest percentage or numerical gain according to the most recent census of chapter membership.

The professional chapter in St. Louis will be recognized for largest percentage of chapter growth. Drake University won both awards in the student chapter categories.

Upon being elected last fall, Sears set a goal of increasing membership to 100 in 18 months. Soon after, Vice President Sarah Breitenbach took over membership for the chapter and joined other national leaders in monthly conference calls on growing membership.

"We've really focused on giving Maryland journalists a reason to be a part of SPJ," Breitenbach said. "We want members to feel like they get what they pay for with a membership. If we accomplish that, they'll keep coming back — hopefully with their colleagues in tow."

Maryland Pro Chapter posted the largest numerical gain, adding 59 members since last year. The chapter now boasts a membership of about 112.

"This is exciting news as we move forward with building the chapter," Sears said. "Over the last year, Sarah has taken the lead on membership issues. The award is proof that our chapter's increased activities and hard work have had an effect on membership. Sarah has been a huge part of driving that change."

Overall, national membership grew 7-percent over last year.

The additional membership means Maryland Pro Chapter will have a larger voice in national affairs. Votes at the national convention, where national officers are elected and installed, is based on chapter size. Chapters are given one vote for every 50 members or portion there of. The increased size gives the chapter one additional vote compared to last year

Banquet Speaker

If you're on the fence about the chapter's upcoming Excellence in Journalism awards banquet perhaps this will be of interest.

Marc Steiner, the former WYPR talk show host, will be the event's featured speaker.

Steiner, who is president of the Center for Emerging Media, will talk about "what CEM is doing now and our role as journalists in this society and technologically complicated 21st century."

The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn, located at 245 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21030.

Tickets are $30. Checks can be mailed to Bryan Sears, 1575 Doxbury Road, Towson, MD 21286-5904.

RSVP by May 13.

Another new free paper

Print is dead, right?

Behold Exhibit A, the new, free publication from The Daily Record.

This from an e-mail announcement forwarded to the chapter:

The first issue of Exhibit A is now available! This quirky legal publication is full of outrageous-but-true crime stories, captivating headlines and practical information to help people understand the legal system.

Published in Baltimore by The Daily Record, Exhibit A is free and available in black boxes on street corners throughout the city and in area retail outlets.

Headlines from the premiere issue include:
•Indentity Theft: Protect your money, your credit, and your family
• A bank's report could put the FBI on your trail
• Don't leave your family with a badly written will
• Take a tip from "The Wire" writers: Jurors should take a stand against 'drug war'

Judicial report kills cameras in Maryland's courtrooms

An 80-page report filed by the Committee to Study Media Coverage of Trial Proceedings in Maryland has unanimously voted to continue to forbid audio and video recordings of criminal trial proceedings.

The report of the six-judge committee wrote:

"The Committee weighed the potential benefits of extended media coverage -
primarily increased public awareness of the criminal trial process - against its potential to
adversely impact trial participants, interfere with the fact-finding process, and impair public
confidence in the criminal justice system. After completing its review, the Committee
determined that the putative benefits of electronic media coverage are illusory, while the
adverse impacts on the criminal justice process are real. The Committee, therefore,
concluded unanimously that the current statutory ban on cameras in criminal trial courts
should remain in effect."

The Society of Professional Journalists Maryland Pro Chapter testified in favor of opening the courtrooms to audio and video recording last November. The chapter also testified in favor of a bill that would open the criminal sentencing portion of criminal trials to such recording.

The continued ban of cameras and audio recording limits the public's access to view court proceedings and monitor the judicial branch of government. Neither the legislative nor the executive branches of government have similar exemptions to such scrutiny.

The chapter is disappointed by the panel's decision but vows to continue to push for more openness in our state's courtrooms.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Why?

Why?

It's one of the basic questions reporters are trained to ask.

Since becoming chapter president in October, I've been pondering this question and now I ask it of those of you who joined the Society of Professional Journalists.

Why are you a member?

Please understand, this is not meant to be a rhetorical question. I hope to start a dialogue with you and understand why many of you join and remain members and what you need from the chapter or would like to see us do in the future.

I'd like it if you would consider leaving your responses on the blog so others can read them and respond. But if you would prefer, you can e-mail it to me at bpsears@gmail.com.

Over the next few weeks the officers of the chapter will be reaching out in other ways to find out how the chapter can better serve the membership.

I look forward to hearing from you hear and speaking to many of you in the coming weeks.

— Bryan P. Sears
Chapter President

Save the Date

Mark your calendars for the chapter's annual awards banquet on Sunday May 18, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hunt Valley Marriott.

More details to follow.

New "b"

In the wake of the news that The Sun is moving it's Baltimore County bureau reporters downtown there is word of a new publication and Web site for the paper.

b (lower case intentional) will focus on 20-something readers.

It sounds an awful lot like RedEye in Chicago and is also a Tribune publication.

A story on BaltimoreSun.com can be found here.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Bureau closing

It's been in the wind all day today in circles around Towson, multiple reliable sources are telling us here at SPJ that The Sun is closing its bureau in Towson. The reporters (at least three) will likely be assigned out of the mother ship on Calvert Street.

Five days ago Tribune, The Sun's parent company, announced a round of buyouts at its various papers including the Baltimore property and Patuxent Publishing Co.

More as this develops.

Again, for those who don't know, I'm an employee at Patuxent Publishing.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Legislative update

We are now awaiting a House Judiciary Committee vote on House Bill 77.

The chapter supported the bill, sponsored by Republican Del. Michael Smigiel. A story from The Gazette can be found here.

The chapter is also supporting House Bill 349 sponsored by Democratic Del. Elizabeth Bobo. The bill would clarify the state Open Meetings Act to require public bodies that meet in closed session to hold any subsequent votes in open session. A copy of the bill's fiscal note is available here.

The bill had a hearing today in the House Judiciary Committee. No vote has yet been scheduled.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

More with less

Tribune Co., parent company of The Baltimore Sun and Patuxent Publishing Co., has announced a round of voluntary buyouts that will reach down into Baltimore-area newsrooms.

Some stories can be found here:

Chicago Tribune

Daily Record

Editor & Publisher

Can you hear David Simon?

In the interest of full disclosure, I am an employee of Patuxent.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Free speech policy

Towson University is revamping its free speech policy only now they are calling it the "time place and manner" policy according to the Towerlight, the independent student publication on campus.

You can read the Towerlight's story here.

The new policy restricts where students can "activate" their right on the Unversity of Maryland system campus.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Supporting expanded court coverage

The Society of Professional Journalists Maryland Pro Chapter will testify in favor of House Bill 77 during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Del. Michael Smigiel, would open criminal sentencing hearings to audio and video recording.

Smigiel introduced a similar bill last year. That bill died in committee.

Jim Lee, Carroll County Times editor and state chairman of SPJ's Sunshine Committee, will testify on behalf of the chapter.

In the past, this chapter has supported opening up all criminal and civil hearings to audio and video recordings. Such a move would provide greater access and accountability and put radio and television reporters on an even playing field with print reporters (not to mention allow those of us who are in print the ability to enhance our own court coverage).

Smigiel's bill is not perfect but it's a good first step.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Newsrooms in the news

Some interesting items from the world of journalism that have Maryland connections of one sort or another.

• First, an essay by David Simon that asks the question "Does news matter to anyone anymore?"that appeared in Jan. 20 Washington Post. As you may know, Simon is a former crime reporter for The Sun and the author of "Homicide: A year on the killing streets". He is also the force behind the NBC crime drama based on Homicide, an HBO mini-series based on his book "The Corner" and the critically acclaimed HBO series "The Wire." The show's current and final season has a story line that involved The Sun.
• Here's a piece on Simon and his essay that appeared in the Jan. 21 edition of the New York Times entitled "Ex-newsman laments a dying craft."
• Additional coverage of the mutual parting of the ways/firing of Los Angeles Times editor James O'Shea. First, his parting speech which was published on LA Observed. Second, a more in-depth piece from the Wall Street Journal. The LA Times is owned by Tribune, which also owns The Sun. Tribune was recently sold to Sam Zell and became a privately held company. (In the interest of full disclosure, I work for Patuxent Publishing Co. which is also owned by Tribune.)
  
• And this late post on the LA Times incident at Columbia Journalism Review.
  

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Call For Entries

The 2007 Maryland Excellence in Journalism Awards contest is now officially accepting entries.

Official post cards are in the mail (you may have already received yours) but I thought I'd take a moment to explain one of the biggest changes here.

The chapter is no longer mailing entry packets. We made this decision because of the numerous requests we've received over the last few years to make the contest rules and entry forms available for download.

Yes, there is a benefit to the chapter in as much as it is fiscally responsible. The chapter ultimately saves on postage and printing costs which means that we'll have more money in the account for servicing you, our valued members.

Already we've held a successful social event at the Towson AMF bowling lanes. If you missed it, find someone who attended and ask them about it. We hope to do more events like this in the future.

So get those entries together and get them in. The postmark deadline is Feb. 29.

Also, if you know of a news organization or Maryland-based journalist or freelancer let them know about the contest. It's open to all reporters in the state even if they aren't members — but they get a price break if they join (Hey, it's a selling point).

Good luck to everyone.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Annapolis watch

One of the goals for the chapter this year is to keep tabs on bills in Annapolis that have an effect on laws journalists should care about.

Specifically, the state Public Information and Open Meetings Acts.

The 90-day General Assembly Session opened on Jan. 9 and the legislature wasted no time getting in its first bill.

Del. Michael Smigiel is currently the sole sponsor of House Bill 77, a bill that would open state court to audio and video recording during the sentencing phase of a criminal trial. You can download a copy of the bill here.

The bill is identical to last year's House Bill 207 which Smigiel also sponsored. That bill was killed in the House Judiciary Committee which is chaired by Del. Joseph Vallario. An easy to read copy of the fiscal and policy note on the bill is available here. Since this year's bill is identical the notes on the bill should also be the same.

If passed, the bill creates a system that potentially could open criminal sentencing hearings to journalists who want to video or audio record the proceedings.

Before opening the hearing, one or more journalists would have to file a request with the courts that:

• Identifies the hearing to be covered.
• Identifies the dates of media coverage requested.
• Describes any pool arrangements made by media organizations.
• Describes equipment used.
• Identifies the members of the media who will be present during the the hearing.

A judge then must sign off on the request but can limit or deny access if the coverage:

• denies a defendant the right to a fair and impartial trial;
• substantially compromises the civil rights or safety of a party involved in the hearing;
• disrupts access to information by other news-gathering organizations.
  

The bill would not open courtrooms up to audio and video recordings, leaving in place a policy that essentially handicaps radio and television reporters (as well as print reporters posting audio or video to Web sites).

In November, I testified on behalf of the chapter in favor of opening state courtrooms to audio and video recordings during a public hearing held by the state judiciary. The rules being considered by that panel could open trials as well as sentencing hearings.

The rules currently in place have been historically discriminatory to television and radio journalists. With the advent of the Internet and new media, these rules affect all reporters and limit both scrutiny of the judiciary, a third and co-equal branch of government, and the public's access to information.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president

Welcome / Frederick County school board drags its feet

As president of the Maryland Pro Chapter of SPJ, I'd like to welcome you to the chapter's blog.

The goal is to use this blog to supplement the chapter Web site communicate effectively and regularly with you and other journalists who are not yet members of the society. We also want to hear from you.

This is a chance to talk back. Give us your feedback, your ideas, tell us your needs or share a story you're proud of or an issue you're having on the job.

As always, you can contact me at bpsears@gmail.com .

Now, onto something more interesting.

Those of you who know me are aware that I am very interested in issues involving access to government — specifically the Maryland Public Information Act and the Open Meeting Act.

Here's an interesting note from Sarah Breitenbach, Maryland Pro vice president and education reporter (and former state house reporter) for the Frederick News-Post.

Seems the Frederick County School Board is a little slow when it comes to fessing up on how much it spends to feed its school board.

It's a budget item. It's clearly a matter of public record.

And clearly the board is intent on delaying the release of the information. Just asking a reporter to file the request is proof. The Act covers the request of documents but does not cover getting answers to a question.

There is a difference between asking a question and wanting a document such as an invoice.

Breitenbach initially asked an employee for the total spent so far this year.

"It was for a notebook item," Breitenbach said. "It really was supposed to be a sentence which is why I thought I'd just call."

Her request ended up asking for a couple of years worth of figures but still just totals. This is something the school system's chief budget officer could have handled by calling the budget people and getting an answer.

It's certain to be in a computer somewhere even if they had to isolate it from a larger fund.

As an aside, it should be noted that had invoices been requested the Attorney General's Handbook on the Public Information Act recommends that government employees immediately turn over documents that are known to be public record.

— Bryan P. Sears
chapter president