News

PUBLIC BODIES BREAKING THE LAW IN THE NAME OF THE PANDEMIC


June 17, 2021 Legal News

Beth Soja [email protected] If you are covering a public body that has resumed meeting in person but is forcing you to participate remotely, they are breaking the law. Over the past year, the pandemic undeniably has changed the way citizens […]

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What to Pack for a Protest


June 1, 2020 Uncategorized

Once again, journalists find themselves at the intersection of indispensability and danger. You are uniquely poised to be the eyes and ears of the public, to stand in their shoes, to report without fear or favor. But how do you do that […]

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Raleigh curfew media exemption


June 1, 2020 Uncategorized

Attention Raleigh media: The Raleigh curfew contains an exemption for “newspaper, magazine, radio broadcasting, and television broadcasting corporations.” Print this out and put it in your pocket: Emergency Proclamation and Curfew.

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TRANSPARENCY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 PUBLIC RECORDS EDITION


April 15, 2020 Public Records, Uncategorized

Continuing on the theme of government transparency and how you get the information you need to cover the developing COVID-19 crisis, I have outlined here some principles to remember.  Email [email protected] to request a sample letter you can use to […]

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TRANSPARENCY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 OPEN MEETINGS LAW EDITION


April 15, 2020 Uncategorized

I want to begin with my gratitude for the vital and hard work that you all have been doing to report on the coronavirus crisis.  Personally, I check five or six news websites about every hour to see what has […]

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INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR LOSSES DUE TO COVID-19


April 7, 2020 Insurance and Coverage

Most businesses are suffering at least some losses—ranging from inconvenience to catastrophe—as the result of the COVID-19, or Novel Coronavirus, pandemic.  Some of these losses may be covered by insurance policies purchased by the affected businesses. Business Interruption Insurance One […]

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FFR: Fourth Circuit Reverses Gag Order


October 29, 2018 Uncategorized

Some of you have been following ongoing federal court litigation related to North Carolina hog farms.  All of you, however, should take note of a 4th Circuit Ruling handed down today reversing a gag order entered in those cases. Judge Britt, […]

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Prepare now for Hurricane Florence insurance claims


September 12, 2018 Insurance and Coverage

You may have heard Hurricane Florence is coming. You’ve stocked up on water, propane and non-perishable food. You’ve refilled your prescriptions and gotten gas for your cars and generator. You’ve restocked your First-Aid kit, charged all of your charging sticks, […]

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FIRST FOR A REASON: ACCESS TO PERSONNEL INFORMATION


October 30, 2017 Uncategorized

FFR received an inquiry about the specifics of the statement in last week’s post that “The law is very narrow with regard to what personnel information is public.  However, almost all personnel statutes permit the public agency to release personnel […]

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