JOUR 3410 1st Edition Lecture 9Outline of Last Lecture I. Code of ethics Outline of Current Lecture II. Legal side of journalism Current Lecture The legal side of journalism Access to meetings/recordings and libel affect day to day reporting  Underlying assumption… Everything is pubic record, every meeting you can have access to… But no—theoretically public has same access but not always  Every public meeting/government document is available to pulic. That is the starting point. And then the law is full of exceptions. This is both good and bad. If an exception is listed, you’re screwed, if not then its available to you  Personel meetings don’t need to say why they want to go into session/close executive sessions…must say why except personel…may not take votes outside, have to vote to go into executive decision  Sunshine laws Open meeting/records laws  Open Records/Open Meetings  How to ask for records: Know the gate keeper  Narrow your request Be aware of costs and how to avoid them  Negotiate  How to challenge when something is closed to you  Put the responsibility on them to justify  Use the law  Avoid the law  How to surrender when you’re beaten  What is a record? Document, paper, letters, maps, books, tapes, photos, data, emails  Open Meetings These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. City councils, school boards, zoning boards, nonprofit, hospitals, committees of Gov.