The Society of Professional Journalists Maryland Pro Chapter criticized Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon for the exclusion of television and print photojournalists from a Jan. 12 public meeting with members of the city council.
Mayor Sheila Dixon, while meeting with 13 of 15 city council members, expelled photographers from the Baltimore Sun, Daily Record as well as WBAL, WMAR and WJZ. The photojournalists were ultimately allowed to re-enter the meeting 40 minutes later, according to reporters who attended the meeting and published reports.
A spokesman for Dixon said the mayor was entitled to decide which reporters could stay and which would be excluded.
This is an opinion clearly at odds with the state's Open Meetings Act which allows the public and the media to attend meetings of public bodies. With 13 of 15 council members in attendance it is clear this meeting meets the definition contained in the Act.
"It's a blow to transparent government when the public or its media representatives are barred from meetings where elected officials are doing the work of the people," said Bryan P. Sears, president of the chapter.
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