RTDNA

RTDNA, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and several other media organizations have filed a brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing the automatic exemption of police videos from release would not serve the public interest. RTDNA is urging the court to continue its practice of assuming all police video should be accessible to the public, subject to an existing four-part test for determining whether such video should be withheld.

The latest RTDNA survey of newsrooms demonstrates a priority for more and better web content, with more than three-quarters of TV news directors and nearly half of radio news directors launching new online initiatives in the past year. Stations are using more video, live streams (of newscasts and breaking news), investigative reporting, and, as expected in an election year, political stories. Some stations are also using separate websites for special projects, web cameras and posting more long-form stories. And stations are slowly growing their use of web-exclusive content and enabling user-generated content to supplement their own.

Some forms of advertising look so much like news, you might not even notice the difference. That’s why RTDNA’s board of directors this month unanimously voted to adopt and to publish new guidelines on what has come to be called “native advertising.”

Mike Cavender, RTDNA: “We’ve found it necessary to write far too often about the lack of openness in the Obama administration. Now, on the eve of Sunshine Week and an appeal to the U.S. Senate by RTDNA and a coalition of media groups in the Sunshine in Government Initiative to support FOIA reform, comes evidence the administration worked aggressively in 2014 to kill similar improvement measures. The irony is that it took an FOIA request to get the documents that prove it.”

The amendment, offered by Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) would create a category of drones under 4.4 pounds, which would exempt operators from testing requirements of aeronautical knowledge, age limits and airworthiness certifications. The goal is to allow users such as news operations to use small drones for newsgathering without the licensing requirements currently required by the FAA. If passed into law, the provision would allow newsrooms to begin deploying drones more quickly.

The bill, currently being debated in the New Jersey legislature, would make videos recorded by police body and dashboard cameras secret, and would exempt the audio and transcripts of 9-1-1 calls from public disclosure.

As state legislatures convene for their 2016 sessions, there are proposals for bills that impact journalists and the public’s right to know. Some are dangerous, like those that would restrict access to police records and videos or hamper recording of police actions. Some, though, are downright silly. But they, too, bear mentioning and watching.

Mike Cavender, RTDNA executive director: “It isn’t enough that we have to contend with fighting legislation around the country that seeks to prevent police videos from being released. Now, in Arizona, there’s a state senator who’s introducing a bill that would make it illegal to record your own video of a police action if you’re closer than 20 feet to the officer.”

A bill currently under consideration by the Indiana House of Representatives would keep police and other government video recordings secret. The measure, which recently passed a House committee, “restricts public records requests for law enforcement recordings” and would require a court order to release video from police body cameras. RTDNA, the Indiana Broadcasters Association  and the Hoosier State Press Association say the bill runs contrary to Indiana’s current public records laws, which require openness.

Named for Edward R. Murrow and presented by Murrow Award winners and other expert contributors, the videos will provide practical tips that electronic journalists can put into practice every day.

The Radio Television Digital News Association is launching the latest edition of its Cameras in the Courts Guide, with completely updated information from every state and courts at the federal […]

The Sunshine in Government Initiative, of which RTDNA is a member, delivered a letter to the House and Senate leadership in Washington opposing proposed changes in legislation that would prevent access by the public to analysis of security threats shared by state and local governments, whether classified or not, calling it “too broad and entirely unnecessary.”

Court officials in New York are considering updates to the rules governing the use of cameras and microphones in courtrooms. RTDNA, the National Press Photographers Association and other journalism organizations support the proposed changes, which would stress that audio-visual coverage should be allowed “to the fullest extent permissible by law.”

NAB announced that the Alison & Adam Memorial Fund established to support families of the victims of this summer’s Roanoke TV shooting has raised $88,175. The National Association of Broadcasters […]

NAB, RTDNA and NATAS are accepting online and offline contributions to support the families of the two WDBJ Roanoke, Va., journalists killed in August. Those wishing to contribute to the Alison & Adam Memorial Fund can do so at http://www.nab.org/donate.

RTDNA the NAB and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences hav joined forces to launch a memorial fund to support the families of the victims in Wednesday’s shooting of a Roanoke, Va., news crew. The three organizations will contribute to and accept donations from broadcasters for the fund on behalf of Alison Parker and Adam Ward. Donations will be accepted through Nov. 1, and $40,000 has already been pledged.

NBC-owned KXAS Dallas and the Dallas Morning News are the winners of RTDNA’s 2015 Gannett Foundation Al Neuharth Award for Investigative Journalism. The two won for their Injured Heroes, Broken Promises series of stories that focused on the treatment of soldiers by the Army’s Warrior Transition Units, designed to help service members who have suffered physical and psychological wounds adjust to civilian life.

RTDNA and more than 50 other journalism and open government organizations are working together to urge the Obama administration to loosen restrictions on public information. In a letter to the president, the groups again expressed the concerns they raised a year ago, over restrictions placed on White House staffers and their communication with journalists.

Earlier this month, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul suffered a serious hand injury while celebrating Independence Day. He was taken to a hospital in Miami, was treated and reportedly required surgery. ESPN’s Adam Schefter learned that Pierre-Paul’s injured finger had to be amputated, and tweeted a picture of what he said was the football player’s medical chart, which included what appeared to be confidendial medical information. That set off a firestorm of debate over the implications.

The two groups have come to the defense of Schurz Communications-owned WDBJ Roanoke, Va., that is facing a record broadcast indecency fine — $325,000 — by the FCC.

As internet audiences move at a quickening pace toward mobile devices, news organizations of all stripes are upgrading and redesigning their online offerings to fit people on the go, and RTDNA is no exception. Today, the association launched a newly-redesigned RTDNA.org with a fresh new look and a responsive design that shows off its content on desktops, tablets and smartphones with ease.

This year, RTDNA awarded 104 national Edward R. Murrow Awards in 13 categories including Feature Reporting, Hard News, Overall Excellence and more. RTDNA received more than 4,200 entries during the 2015 awards season, setting an all-time record for the third year in a row. The TV station Overall Excellence winners are KING Seattle and KETV Omaha, Neb.

Despite all the profound changes triggered by technology, world events and other societal forces over the past 15 years, it turns out the core values of journalism have held up pretty well over time. In fact, the newly revised RTDNA Code of Ethics, adopted this month by the association’s board of directors, is as notable for what’s not new as for what is.

The news organization will present its 2015 Paul White Award, which recognizes a lifetime of achievement and service to the profession of electronic journalism to Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes. The award will be presented on Saturday, Sept. 19, at RTDNA’s Excellence in Journalism 2015 conference in Orlando, Fla.

The ABC News correspondent will be honored for his contributions to journalism and freedom of the press in a ceremony on Sept. 19 at the RTDNA’s Excellence in Journalism 2015 convention in Orlando, Fla.

The latest survey from RTDNA and researcher Bob Papper finds that TV and radio newsrooms are making greater use of Twitter, Facebook and other social media. Nearly three-quarter of TV news directors reported doing something new with social media in 2014. Overall, newsrooms with Twitter accounts didn’t increase over the prior year, but the percentage saying they use it “constantly” increased by 12 points

RTDNA has announced the 2015 regional winners of the Edward R. Murrow Awards. The awards recognize the best electronic journalism produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world. This year, RTDNA awarded 673 regional awards in 14 categories, including Overall Excellence, Breaking News, Investigative Reporting and Website.

Ann Compton, the longtime ABC newswoman and White House press corps vet, has been named RTDNA’s 2015 First Amendment Award honoree. She was the first woman assigned to cover the White House on a full-time basis by a network television news organization.

RTDNA Executive Director Mike Cavender says the passing of 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon reminds us all too starkly of who and what really matters in the world of journalism.

RTDNA joined millions of people around the world in condemning the terrorist attack in Paris at the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday. “Violence against any member of the press, whether correspondents on the front lines or artists employing satire to comment on society is an affront to free people everywhere,” said Mike Cavender, RTDNA executive director. “Those behind this attack must be brought to justice.”

Hearst Television joins other major station groups including Gannett, Nexstar and Sinclair in partnership with the Radio Television Digital News Association.