Norman Helps Bloggers Get Press Credentials

Submitted by Webmaster on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 7:51am

Last week Norman assisted three bloggers in obtaining press credentials. Below is the media advisory that explains what happened and that the lawsuit is continuing. Norman is co-counsel in this case with Steve Hyman of the law firm McLaughlin & Stern and Scott Warren and Michael Cottler of the Goodwin Proctor law firm. Check the following links for the NYT City Room (1/9/09), Daily News (1/9/09) and the Brooklyn Ron blog 1/10/09.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/bloggers-get-press-credenti...
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/01/score-one-for-the...
http://www.brooklynron.com/2009/01/norm-siegel-wins-big-victory-for-blog...

Media Advisory

January 9, 2009

The New York City Police Department issued press identification cards today to three independent journalists, who had filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of New York City’s system of granting press credentials.

Despite this victory, Plaintiffs Rafael Martinez-Alequin, reporter and editor of New York City Free Press, Ralph E. Smith, a reporter and publisher for GuardianChronicle.com, and David Wallis, editor of Featurewell.com, will continue the lawsuit against New York City and the New York Police Department, the City agency currently responsible for providing credentials to journalists. In 2007, the NYPD denied the plaintiffs’ applications to renew their press credentials.

“This is an important first step but only a first step. We still need to address the constitutional problems in the system of granting press credentials in New York City that has run amuck and needs to be changed immediately,” said civil rights attorney Norman Siegel, who is one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs.

The civil rights lawsuit alleges that the policy and practices of the City of New York have resulted in an unconstitutional and unlawful interference with and prevention of news coverage in New York City and beyond, leading to violations of the constitutional rights of freedom of the press and speech of journalists.

For further information contact Norman Siegel at 212-532-7586, Scott Warren at 212-813-8953, or David Wallis at 212-924-2283.