By The Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego chapter
Journalist Kelly Davis. (Twitter photo)
The San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is deeply concerned about San Diego County government’s inappropriate treatment of journalist Kelly Davis after she exposed the deaths of dozens of people in its jails. Its action represents a failure of transparency and a misguided attack on a journalist instead of an attack on the very real and important problems she uncovered.
The County’s expensive legal attempt to subpoena notes, require testimony and reveal confidential sources is unconscionable. We demand a public pledge from the County to refrain from such retaliatory tactics against journalists who seek to hold government accountable on behalf of the citizens government should serve.
This case underscores the need for a federal shield law to protect journalists from being compelled to release confidential information. Either through legislation or case law, 48 states and the District of Columbia recognize the need for these protections and it is time for Congress to do the same.
We also commend attorney Matthew Halgren and his firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP for representing Davis pro bono and US District Court Judge Janis L.Sammartino for ruling in Davis’ favor.
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I have to wonder if U-T reporters or any of a number of radio-tv stations were to investigate and report how jail deaths ocurred in San Diego County whether those organizations would be subjected to subpoenas for notes and recordings the reporters used in their pursuit of the story. We’re a long way from the early 70s when the old Evening Tribune of the Copleys covered DA Ed Miller’s investigation into the same sort of fatal brutalities at County Jail. San Diego government sometimes improves, sometimes worsens. Sheriff Gore and DA Summer Stephan seem to have taken a few steps backward toward political safety.
Every San Diego area resident should be protesting the County’s efforts to harass and intimidate a journalist who was seeking to unearth and publish a despicable practice. From the largest and most renowned journalistic publications to the smallest and most humble, the free press is under attack. Oddly, very few people seem to care enough to voice their concern. Maybe in this case, it’s because the subject matter of Kelly Davis’ work was jail inmates. As I have been told in the past by correctional officers, jail inmates are not really people. But as we lose the free press, we are diminished in our ability to claim we are different from all others targeted for persecution. One by one, we who disagree with power will fall.
Amen.