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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: PF Kansas News Raid Update
HEADLINE: Prosecutor Finds Insufficient Evidence to Support Kansas Newspaper Raid
TEASER: Marion County Record publishes first edition since newsroom raid, as Kansas Bureau of Investigation starts inquiry into police action
PUBLISHED AT: 8/17/23 at 7:40 p.m.
BYLINE: Jessica Jerreat
DATELINE:
CONTRIBUTOR:
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: caw, DLJ
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, Marion County Record
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO
TRT: 2:26
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO)] A Kansas prosecutor’s office says it has found insufficient evidence to support a police raid on the weekly newspaper Marion County Record. The raid has alarmed U.S. media advocates and caught the attention of the White House. VOA’s Jessica Jerreat has the story.]]
((Narrator))
Seized but not silenced. That’s the headline on the front page of this week’s Marion County Record.
((+AP credit)) ((Courtesy: Marion County Record))
A Kansas prosecutor has found insufficient evidence to support a police raid on the weekly newspaper and home of its publisher, Eric Meyer.
The prosecutor says all seized material — including computers and phones — should be returned. The paper says it will have that equipment analyzed.
The August 11 raid shocked U.S. media and First Amendment advocates — and even caught the attention of the White House.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday the raids “raise a lot of concerns and a lot of questions” and she underscored the importance of a free press.
((Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary))
“That is the core value when you think about our democracy, when you think about the cornerstone of our democracy, the freedom of press is right there.”
((Narrator))
America has a strong record on media freedom. But the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has documented more than 90 searches and seizures since 2017, when it first started collecting data.
((+AP credit)) ((Courtesy: Marion County Record))
A search warrant in the newspaper’s case says police were looking for evidence of potential identity theft and computer crimes related to ((end credit)) a dispute between the publication and a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell.
(([1:12] + AP credit))((Courtesy: Marion County Record))
Newell has alleged the newspaper violated her privacy and illegally obtained personal information about her. ((end credit))
But Meyer says he believes the raid may also be connected to the paper investigating the local police chief.
He also blames the raid for the death of his 98-year-old mother, Joan, who was the paper’s co-owner. [[Production: pronounced as Joanne]]
The Marion Police Department did not reply to a VOA request for comment. ((Courtesy Facebook/Marion Police Department)) But in a Facebook statement, it defended its actions, saying “when the rest of the story is available to the public, the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated." ((end credit))
Journalists from across the United States gathered in Marion, a town of about 1,900 people, this week as the Marion County Record worked on this week’s edition, devoted to the raid.
((For radio: Marion County Record publisher Eric Meyer.))
((Eric Meyer, Marion County Record Publisher))
“Extremely pleased with the outpouring of support we've received from other news organizations, organizations of journalists, just people around the country. I don't even have a count of it, but our circulation has probably increased by 25, 50% by people coming on to our website and just signing up for a subscription.”
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation this week announced it will be investigating the raid and what prompted it.
((Jessica Jerreat, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
in Kansas
Embargo DateAugust 17, 2023 17:27 EDT
Byline
Jessica Jerreat, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
