Newsday has notified Nassau County that it intends to file a lawsuit against it, the County Legislature, and County Executive Bruce Blakeman for repeatedly obstructing Newsday’s access to information essential to the local communities Newsday has been serving for decades.
Over the last year, the county has actively refused to provide Newsday with basic and critical information Nassau County residents should know regarding county operations. Newsday reporters have been removed from the county’s media lists for the distribution of crucial information and announcements, and, on multiple occasions, county officials failed to respond to information requests from Newsday reporters on matters vital to county residents.
Requests for information and comment on key news reports affecting Nassau County residents, such as the county’s mask ban, development plans for the Nassau County casino, details on the impact the new armed deputy force would have on the community, economic impact on hosting the cricket World Cup, comment on what the county charges for online credit card fees, information about the qualifications of the person who was set to lead the social services department and a host of other issues were purposefully ignored.
Additionally, the county removed Newsday as the official newspaper for the publication of notices, depriving the 440,000 weekly readers of Newsday in Nassau County of information that notifies them of government activities — such as proposed laws and public hearings that impact their everyday lives. These actions are in retaliation against Newsday for coverage the county found unfavorable. They are a violation of First Amendment rights.
“As Long Island’s most trusted news source, Newsday needs to ensure that all media outlets have equal access to all information essential to our audiences,” said Debby Krenek, Newsday’s publisher. “The residents of Nassau County have the right to transparency from their government officials, and taxpayer dollars should never be used to intimidate the press and limit information the public needs.”
Because of its singular focus on Long Island, Newsday has long been recognized as the most appropriate news outlet for the county’s news and notices of governmental action and no other media outlet in the area compares. It has been the officially designated newspaper for Nassau County since the Nassau County Legislature’s inception in 1996, and prior to that when it was the Nassau County Board of Supervisors. With about 100 reporters covering the county, Newsday is the largest news organization dedicated to reporting on Nassau County and has the widest audience. By taking this legal action, Newsday seeks to ensure that Nassau County residents are not deprived of vital information that impacts their everyday lives, and that they have a right to know, given the county executive is elected from the county at large.
For more information, contact Newsday Communications Manager Tara Rogers, 631-843-2755, tara.rogers@newsday.com.
About Newsday Media Group:
Newsday Media Group (NMG) is one of the nation’s most dynamic media organizations, serving Long Island through its portfolio of mobile, digital, video, audio, print products and live events. With 19 Pulitzer Prizes and other esteemed awards for outstanding journalism, Newsday has evolved from a traditional newspaper into an innovative multimedia content-generating machine. With strong local journalism and deep dive investigations which are important to all Long Islanders, Newsday continues its long tradition as the eyes and ears of Long Island. Newsday Live events provide experiences and conversations relevant to life on Long Island. Learn more at newsday.com.
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