City's Tattler "Communication Plan" Is Really A Non-Communication Plan
By Mr X
Emeryville’s administration is attempting to muzzle the city’s independent news service, erecting roadblocks to news-gathering and threatening the publication’s editor with prosecution.
Oddly echoing events playing out in Washington DC, local leaders have enacted an executive order barring the Tattler’s editor from any vocal or written interaction with any city employee.
According to a 'communication plan' drafted by City Attorney John Kennedy, Tattler editor Brian Donahue may only communicate with city elected leaders, officials or employees during the ‘public comment’ period of city council meetings. Under state regulations, city officials, elected leaders and employees are all barred from addressing concerns raised during public comment.
Kennedy, in a memo sent to the Tattler in October, describes the Editor’s news-gathering and reporting as "harassment," “aggression,” “threatening,” “intimidating,” and “hostile,” attempting to conjure a linguistic context for his actions. Exactly the types of terms the Administration in Washington has leveled at news outlets not offering fawning, supplicating coverage.
A bizarre attempt by Kennedy to add gravitas by citing case law, undermines his own memo, and the constitutionality of his actions potentially resulting in financial liability for the City of Emeryville. One case, Minn. Bd. Commun. for Colleges v. Knight, 465 U.S. 271 (1984) concerns unrepresented groups attending meetings for unionized employees during contract negotiations, the other, L. F. v. Lake Wash. Sch. Dist. concerned an aggrieved parent and communications with the teachers of that parent’s children and school and district officials—not an entire city. Regardless, on-going bi-weekly meetings between the parent and school officials were established.
While this effort to restrict and eventually destroy an independent voice in Emeryville plays out in court, perhaps the most troubling aspect is how closely local officials are adhering to and advancing President Trump’s effort to silence inconvenient voices. The Emeryville Tattler must be fairly effective.
Mr X, besides working for the Tattler, was a reporter for the Oakland Tribune and several other print
publications, two NPR affiliates in Northern California and received an Edward R Murrow award for his work covering wildfires in Northern California.
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| Silencing journalism increases group think, stifles public participation and decreases critical thinking. |
I think you are on solid ground. However I think you make a safe when you compare these efforts to efforts in Washington. There is no good reason to mix the two issues as you could alienate some people who may support what's happening in Washington. If you need your comparison to Washington you will see that one of the reasons why Trump was elected was because they tried to silence him. It's amazing how things change when the shoe is on the other foot. This is just some friendly advice
ReplyDeleteGreat bunch of readers you've cultivated Tattler.
DeleteAll are welcome to read and comment on any Tattler story. Right wingers are especially welcome.
DeleteSilence in the face of possible injustice is a moral failing. It is a responsibility of every individual in our community to demand accountability and acts of moral conscience from our government leaders and when those "leaders" hide behind the corrosive accusations of "harassment", "aggression", "threatening", "intimidating" and "hostile" it only shows the fear that permeates our government administration. They wish not to be disturbed from their ineffectual dalliances and paycheck-based moribund, undisturbed lives. They should be thanking the Tattler for bringing challenge and spontaneity to their droll lives! "The greatness of America is the right to protest FOR right!"
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