News
PUBLIC BODIES BREAKING THE LAW IN THE NAME OF THE PANDEMIC
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 […]
Read MoreWhat to Pack for a Protest
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 […]
Read MoreRaleigh curfew media exemption
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.
Read MoreTRANSPARENCY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 PUBLIC RECORDS EDITION
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 fir[email protected] to request a sample letter you can use to […]
Read MoreTRANSPARENCY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 OPEN MEETINGS LAW EDITION
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 […]
Read MoreINSURANCE COVERAGE FOR LOSSES DUE TO COVID-19
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 […]
Read MoreFFR: Fourth Circuit Reverses Gag Order
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, […]
Read MorePrepare now for Hurricane Florence insurance claims
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, […]
Read MoreFIRST FOR A REASON: ACCESS TO PERSONNEL INFORMATION
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 […]
Read More