tv camera ban Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

3 Sep, 2014

Knox County judge reverses camera ban in courtroom

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T08:15:28-05:00September 3, 2014|Categories: Open Courts|Tags: camera ban, courtroom access, Knoxville News Sentinel, Rick Hollow, tv camera ban, WBIR|0 Comments

The Knoxville News Sentinel and WBIR challenged a camera ban in the courtroom of a newly elected chancellor, and got a reversal. The judge had refused the newspaper's request to photograph his first day on the bench. The newspaper made the request under the Supreme Court Rule 30, which governs media coverage in courtrooms. The rule basically allows a judge an ability to limit or refuse media coverage in certain circumstances "to (i) control the conduct of the proceedings before the court; (ii) maintain decorum and prevent distractions; (iii) guarantee the safety of any party, witness, or juror; and (iv) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause..." There [...]

14 Mar, 2014

Greene County school board chairman apologizes over TV camera ban

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T07:55:08-05:00March 14, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings, school boards|Tags: Greene County, schools, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, tv camera ban, WJHL|1 Comment

The Greene County school board chairman apologized last night to "the board and to the public" over the TV camera ban from its public meeting last month, according to WJHL News Channel 11 and The Greeneville Sun. The board also proposed language that would change its camera policy. The policy allows the school board to prohibit cameras, including TV cameras, and is recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association. However, an Tennessee Attorney General's opinion about banning cameras from public meetings says they should only be prohibited if they create a safety problem or disturb the orderly conduct of the meeting. Neither of those reasons was given to the WJHL [...]

6 Mar, 2014

Jason Davis: Free press, until we disagree

By Deborah Fisher|2014-04-09T17:09:56-05:00March 6, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings|Tags: Greene County, schools, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, tv camera ban|0 Comments

Jason Davis, editor of The Mountain Press in Sevierville, writes about the Greene County school board's decision to ban TV cameras from its meetings and the danger to a free press if its decision is allowed to stand. Here is an excerpt, republished with permission: Call it naiveté, but I generally believe most people seek public office because they think they can make a positive difference for their community. In many cases those elected are true statesmen — that is, they do right for the people they represent, putting the public, their constituents, before self. But there are some that, once elected, become entrenched and affected by the process. Often [...]

5 Mar, 2014

Greene County update: Two board members say there was no vote to ban TV cameras

By Deborah Fisher|2014-04-09T17:14:08-05:00March 5, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings|Tags: Greene County, schools, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, tv camera ban|0 Comments

WJHL News Channel 11 has an update on the ban of TV cameras from Greene County school board meetings. Last week, the school board chairman turned away a TV reporter's video camera, with the schools director later saying it was long established policy to ban TV cameras from its meetings and it helped prevent a "sound-bite view" of proceedings. But the underlying policy is becoming a controversy. As written, it says school board members can decide whether to permit cameras or not. Two school board members now tell WJHL that there was never a vote to keep TV media cameras out. Also, Office of Open Records Counsel Elisha Hodge told [...]

28 Feb, 2014

Greene County camera policy mirrors recommendation from TSBA

By Deborah Fisher|2017-01-06T15:27:24-06:00February 28, 2014|Categories: Attorney General Opinions, Open Meetings, school boards|Tags: AG opinion, Greene County, schools, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, tv camera ban|0 Comments

The Greene County Board of Education's decision to ban TV cameras from its public meetings appears to be based on a recommended camera policy by the the Tennessee School Board Association. The school board association sets out best practices for its members. A recommended meeting policy contains the same language that is being reported as in the Greene County school board policy: "No one shall bring a camera, camcorder or other photographic equipment to Board meetings without the consent of the Board," reads TSBA's recommendation. The Greene County school board policy differs only that it starts "The press shall not bring..." The association insists its recommended language is not a "ban" [...]