Bartle & Callahan sponsor legislation affecting Chiefs coverage
 

I don't if this is available on the web yet. I just got it via email.

Jefferson City – Sens. Matt Bartle, R-Lee's Summit, and Victor Callahan, D-Independence, today introduced legislation prohibiting Missouri sports teams that utilize public funds from prohibiting members of the media from covering their games from the sidelines.

"Stadiums that are financed with taxpayer dollars should not be off limits to the media outlets on which the public relies," Bartle said. "When teams trying to increase their bottom line try to keep local media out of the stadium, they are keeping us all out."

Under Senate Bill 452, any team that owns, operates or leases a stadium that has been partially funded with taxes cannot prohibit coverage of their games. Members of the media who are denied access may file for damages in the local circuit court. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Michigan Legislature.

"Every legitimate member of the print and broadcast media should have access to the sidelines," Callahan said. "Tax dollars should not be used for businesses trying to exert a monopoly on coverage."

Recently enacted National Football League (NFL) policy prohibits local television stations from shooting their own video from the sidelines during NFL games. Under the plan, stations must take a network pool feed for use in their news programs.

The NFL says it is trying protect ownership rights of game content. However, high-profile groups such as the National Association of Broadcasters and Society of Professional Journalists oppose the rule change as a subversion of the First Amendment right of a free press.

I support this action. You wouldn't believe the restrictions placed upon local media.

This is great news. They're right. It is a matter of fairness.

Go get 'em, you wacky Senators!!

FAX

How did you find out about those restrictions?

Agreed. As someone who is majoring in journalism, I'm against this type of silly media censorship.

I used to volunteer for a POS magazine.

Awesome

Matt is actually a friend of mine so if you guys want any laws passed in Missouri you just let me know - okay?

Have you encountered such problems, Mr. (Zach)? I mean, you have had press access to the sideline, have you not?

FAX

Who was it that was basically banned from the press conferences and/or locker room? Is their ban still in effect?

It was my understanding that it was a huge struggle to get me that access from week to week. As you can tell from conversations in the past...the integrity of that source was questionable at best. It applies to photo but really focuses on video...which is where the bottleneck seems to be.

Interesting. Thanks for the information. I really support these guys in their effort. Frankly, I would probably support almost anything that holds the NFL's obvious efforts to control every aspect of the game in check.

They're out of control.

FAX

I think you're talking about Bob Fescoe. The Royals tossed his press credentials after he asked David Glass some tough questions during Dayton's Moore's introductory press conference. Fescoe is now in St. Louis.

Well from the NFL and the network side, I can see their angle. Networks are shelling out billions of dollars so people can watch their video. Heck I dont blame them, dont try to cut off the hand that is paying you.

well i was told not to call the chiefs for interviews.