The Eugene Police Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to make changes to the Eugene Police Department’s existing media access policy, changes that could potentially acknowledge members of the media as a body separate from the public and could give reporters and photographers greater access to police activities in the event of public disturbances.
The major policy changes include the possible requirement of a media press pass — one that meets police standards but is issued by media organizations — that would allow access to unruly demonstrations, riots or crime scenes. If needed, EPD could also implement a press pool that would allow a limited number of media personnel to have access to dangerous or large-scale situations.
Previously, EPD did not have a policy that differentiated between the media and the general public. The commission decided to review its policy in October 2001, and Thursday’s changes are a result of that process.
“It’s a living document,” commission Chairman John Brown said. “I think it’s time to move forward and see how it works.”
Despite Thursday’s policy revisions, EPD Public Information Officer Pam Alejandre said the changes won’t be significant.
“In many cases, the changes that have been recently put into words is what has already been in practice,” she said. “We’re not going to make everyone happy, but we think that collectively, positive steps have been made to recognize who the media are.”
The implementation of these policies could come into play in the event of civil disturbances like those in June 2000, when EPD restricted media access to some personnel. Tension arose June 18 and 19 between EPD and the media when anarchist demonstrations downtown turned into riots.
“I don’t believe there was real clarity about what kind of priority they should place on media access,” said Jim Godbold, executive editor of The Register-Guard. “This policy came up as one classification of issues we were having problems with. We need to maintain the same spirit of accommodation to meet the needs of media in the whole spectrum of media coverage.”
Of specific interest is the press pass requirement. The new policy will create a two-tier level, giving media outlets with written credentials access to a scene or event restricted to the general public. Media personnel that don’t have credentials meeting EPD’s requirements will have access equal to that of the general public.
The policy specifies a “news-gathering organization” as “any print, broadcast, or online operation that shares information with the public on a periodic basis.” Media identification cards must measure at least 3-by-5 inches, have a white background and include the media member’s name, signature, a one-by-one inch front-facing photograph, the name of the issuing or affiliated media organization and the term “media” or “press” in one-inch-high letters.
Nontraditional media haven’t participated in the discussion process because they feel doing so would validate it, said Tim Lewis, a freelance videographer for Cascadia Alive!, a local cable-access television show.
Lewis said the new policy won’t affect how he approaches his job and added that he won’t comply with a need for press credentials. If anything, he said, the policy will just control mainstream media.
“The kind of message we put out there is quite different from what mainstream media and the cops have reported,” Lewis said. “We’re going to cover what’s going on in our community, and we’re going to get it one way or another.”
The Eugene Weekly expressed its “strong disappointment” with the policy. Reporter Alan Pittman said that most of the comments the paper submitted were “ignored.”
Cambra Ward, KMTR vice president and general manager, said EPD policies have been good for the news station and that EPD has worked well with them, providing access when needed.
“From what I can see, it doesn’t look like it’s going to affect us very much,” Ward said.
The framework for the new policy has been taking shape over the past months. EPD’s Committee on Media Access Issues studied the topic from October through March, presenting its findings for the commission’s review two months ago. A motion was passed at that time, allowing additional time for more discussion and minor amendments. Thursday’s meeting, held in the McNutt Room of Eugene City Hall, ended discussion and incorporated
the proposals.
The policies on media access were approved with a 9-0 vote by the 12-member commission that includes city councilors Bonny Bettman and Betty Taylor. All other members are volunteers and were selected by Mayor Jim Torrey.