For Immediate Release 5/10/2012
Contact: Art Hughes 612-236-8302
The Minnesota Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists calls upon attorneys for Amy Senser to abandon their senseless efforts to seize journalists’ work product before the attorneys and journalists incur unnecessary expenses.
Journalists’ interviews are important parts of informing the public. Unpublished parts of these interviews are not intended for other uses. Journalists do not work for government or private lawyers, and it is inappropriate for lawyers to demand unpublished information.
Senser attorney Eric Nelson is seeking a subpoena for raw footage of interviews KARE-11 conducted with jurors in the recent criminal vehicular homicide trial. At this time, we know of at least two other Twin Cities media outlets that have been issued subpoenas by Senser’s attorney.
Minnesota SPJ expects the Senser demands to fail completely under the Minnesota Shield Law.
