OREGON SENATE MAY RESTRICT ACCESS TO 911 CALLS

By: Staff Reports RTNDA Files Objection To Pending Bill


Citing the press' role to check power vested in law enforcement
agencies, The Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA)
asked lawmakers in Oregon to reject a bill exempting audio
recordings of 911 calls from the state's public records law.

The pending bill, which was passed by the Oregon House, is now
under consideration by the state Senate.

RTNDA President Barbara Cochran and News Director John Sears at
KPTV in Portland sent a letter to Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaver and
state senators, citing the federal Freedom of Information Act and
other "right to know" laws to keep 911 calls public.

Proponents of the bill have cited privacy concerns of 911
callers. However, Cochran and Sears argued that "the organized
press plays a fundamental role in using open records to examine
and evaluate law enforcement behavior for the simple reason that
most individuals do not have the time to directly monitor their
government's behavior."

The complete letter from RTNDA to the Oregon Senate can be found
at http://www.rtnda.org.



Copyright 2001, Editor & Publisher.