Shop Talk

The panelists talk about a federal appeals court ruling on Illinois' eavesdropping law.

The Chicago Tribune reports the Seventh Circuit US Court of Appeals in Chicago found the law “likely violates” the First Amendment. The court ordered authorities to stop enforcing it.

The law made it illegal to audio record police officers in public without their consent. Violators faced harsh prison sentences.

The matter became an issue because of the NATO summit scheduled to be held in Chicago on May 20 & 21, 2012.

The Shop Talk panelists questioned why police officers could not be recorded in public. They're supposed to be public servants who work in public areas.

The panelists talk about an article on the CareerCast website, which said newspaper reporter and broadcaster are two of the worst jobs of 2012.

The article said, “As the digital world continues to take over and provide on-demand  information, the need for print newspapers and daily newscasts is diminishing. To be sure, both jobs once seemed glamorous, but on-the-job stress, declining job opportunities and income levels are what landed them on our Worst Jobs list.”

This week's program is about Bill Knight's career and changes in the news industry. In addition, Lisa Kernek joins the panel to replace Knight.

Knight graduated from WIU, went on to be a reporter, and came back to Western to teach in the early 1990s. He never stopped writing and reporting, and will continue to do commentaries on Tri States Public Radio.

Knight said there have been many changes in the newspaper industry over the years. He said the one creating the biggest impact right now is in management.

"It's being managed by people who didn't come up through the ranks of the newsroom, which means a lot of their decisions are logical financially but they don't necessarily appreciate the consequences on the news gathering," Knight said.

The panelists talk about the late Mike Wallace's lament about cable news, which he dismissed as “opinion, gossip, and scandal.”

Wallace said, “News today has become yammer, yammer, yammer. It's infotainment. It used to be a race to the top. To a certain degree news today is a race to the bottom.”

The panelists discuss a policy implemented by Chicago State University. The Chicago Tribune reported CSU told faculty and staff that everything from opinion pieces to social media communications could require prior approval, and that only authorized university personnel could share information with the media.

(Editor's note: CSU rescinded the policy in the time since this program was recorded).

The Shop Talk panelists, as you might guess, don't care for the policy. It sounds like something convicted felon Rod Blagojevich would have imposed during his time as Illinois governor.

The panelists discuss so-called "ag gag" laws, one of which was recently signed by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.

The bill makes it a crime to access an agricultural facility under false pretenses.  Illinois and Missouri lawmakers have considered similar legislation.

Critics of the bill say it is too broad because it does not define "false pretenses." Supporters say the law will protect farmers.

The Shop Talk panelists believe the law is wrong-headed because it will stifle investigations into practices that could be harmful to consumers. Panelist Bill Knight said libel laws should be enough to prevent false reporting about what happens on farms. 

The panelists talk about a constitutional amendment in Mexico that would federalize criminal attacks on journalists.

The Citizen Media Law Project reports the amendment was recently approved by the Mexican Senate. It still needs to be approved by more than half of the country's 31 state legislatures. Even if it wins approval, the amendment offers no guidance on how it would be enforced.

Drug cartels have made Mexico one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, who are routinely threatened, attacked, or killed if they report on crime.

The panelists discuss legislation in Illinois (SB 3773) requiring charities that receive state money to follow the state's Freedom of Information Act.

Financial statements and e-mails are among the items that would be subject to FOIA requests. Not-for-profits feel the plan would create confusion and burden organizations with extra work. In addition, they point out they are private entities.

The panelists disagree. They feel FOIA should apply to expenditures public money.