2021 was another record year in U.S. Press Freedom, but not in a good way Published Jan. 2022 By Eric P. Robinson, USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications The language of the First Amendment regarding freedom of speech and the press seems pretty absolute: “Congress shall make no law...
Chauvin Trial Shows Importance of Court Access
Chauvin Trial Shows Importance of Court Access Published April 2021 By Eric P. Robinson, USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications There has been a lot of attention focused on the ongoing trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd. Occurring in the context of...
Sunshine Week 2021
Sunshine Week 2021 Bill Rogers (click to view and download high res image) Posted March 12, 2021Sunshine Week is March 14-20, 2021. Make plans now to join SCPA and news organizations across the country in the discussion about the importance of access to public information and what it means for you...
Open government is key to honest government
Open government is key to honest government Ken Paulson, Director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University The Free Speech Center shared this Sunshine Week column with SCPA members. You are welcome to republish. It includes this advice on how to support transparency in government: Read and...
Access to judicial records
By SCPA Attorney Jay Bender | Years ago a young woman named Heather Elvis disappeared in Horry County. Her body has never been found, but two persons have been found guilty in connection with her disappearance.
Legal Q&A: Photographing private property
Q: A local business is not letting our photographer take a photo of a sign on the outside of the building, which says they are closed to do training. Can we insist on taking that photo from their parking lot?