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