The Georgia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists today is grateful that a judge has finally signed an order to drop charges against a newspaper publisher who was jailed for filing an open records request. Senior Judge Richard Winegarden on July 18 agreed to sign the order dismissing charges against Fannin Focus publisher Mark…
Author: spjgeorgia
Georgia Publisher still caught up in criminal justice system over records request
ATLANTA – Despite the announcement on July 7 that charges would be dropped against Mark Thomason, the north Georgia newspaper publisher remains under indictment on felony charges for filing an open records request. The order to drop the charges was sent to Senior Court Judge Richard Winegarden who has refused to sign the order, calling…
SPJ: Dropping of charges against newspaper publisher is overdue
The Georgia professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is thrilled that a prosecutor has dropped three felony charges against a newspaper publisher who sought public records. It’s about time. Those charges should never have been filed. While we are thankful Mark Thomason, publisher of the Blue Ridge, Ga.-based Fannin Focus, no longer has the…
SPJ Georgia files complaint against judge in Open Records case
The Georgia professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has made a formal complaint to the Judicial Qualifications Commission against a judge who had a journalist jailed over an Open Records Request. Brenda Weaver, Chief Superior Court Judge of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit, had Fannin Focus publisher Mark Thomason and his attorney arrested after…
Society of Professional Journalists Georgia condemns outrageous response to Open Records Request
The state Open Records Act was designed to make our elected officials more transparent and accountable. That’s what Mark Thomason, publisher of the Blue Ridge, Ga.-based Fannnin Focus, was attempting to do when he filed a records request related to the activities of Judge Brenda Weaver. Specifically, he requested copies of checks that had…
Reporting on immigration issues ‘eye-opening’ panel, SPJGA member says
By Meghan de St. Aubin SPJ invited several members of the community to a panel on April 23 to speak on the topic of immigration and how it currently affects those in the area. Members of the panel included State Representative Pedro Marin, reporter Mario Guevara of Mundo Hispanico, Luis Estrada of Telemundo, Charles Kuck…
Haiti News Project Meeting, May 12
The SPJ Georgia committee on Haiti will meet on Thursday, May 12Â at 7 p.m. The group will discuss upcoming events and the possibility of funding a trip to Haiti. Location: Hudson Grille Brookhaven, 4046 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30319 The Haiti News Project committee is working with a group of journalists in Haiti to bring…
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