Baltimore Sun union reps are back at the negotiating table today with management.
In new contract negotiations with Tribune, Baltimore Sun union seeks elusive pay bump
U.S. Court of Appeals: City’s ‘gag orders’ in BPD misconduct settlements violate 1st Amendment
Reversing an earlier ruling by a lower court, a panel of federal appellate judges today sided with a Baltimore woman and local news website the Baltimore Brew in a free speech lawsuit against the Baltimore Police Department.
The publication and the woman, Ashley Overbey, sued the city over its frequent use of gag orders in settlements for past police misconduct lawsuits, arguing they violate accusers’ First Amendment rights and hamper the press in obtaining crucial details to accurately report on such cases.
WJZ reporter Ron Matz is retiring this month
For more than two decades, Ron Matz has appeared down in Fells Point bright and early every week, hosting guests and strangers belting out the Bangles’ “Manic Monday” live on-air for WJZ-TV.
Alex DeMetrick retires after 35 years reporting for WJZ
After more than four decades in the news business, most of them spent with WJZ-TV here in Baltimore, Alex DeMetrick has left the building.
Literally. We tried to reach him Thursday afternoon, but he’d already left for the day, and when we called again this morning on his final day, an assignment desk staffer said he stopped by around 5 a.m. to get his things: “He’s already gone.”
Adam Jones, others roast radio host Jerry Coleman for booing Machado
Third baseman Manny Machado returned to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for the first time since his mid-season departure last year, and Orioles fans welcomed back the All-Star with a long standing ovation before his first at-bat.
After briefly standing in the batter’s box, Machado stepped out and acknowledged the cheers with two waves and a salute to the fans.
Watch Keith Mills obliterate a computer to celebrate his semi-retirement
In case you didn’t know, longtime Baltimore sportscaster Keith Mills is retiring, sort of, with plans to step back from his full-time gigs with WBAL Radio, WBAL-TV and 98 Rock.
Coalition of journalists, watchdogs sue for right to broadcast court recordings
A coalition of local journalists, watchdogs and legal groups filed a federal lawsuit today arguing for the right to broadcast recordings of criminal trials in Maryland.
Under a section of Maryland’s Code of Criminal Procedure, the publication of audio and visual records from a trial, hearing, motion or argument during a criminal proceeding is forbidden, even though citizens can purchase audio recordings and review video–complete with bench conferences–at the courthouse.
This ban, the plaintiffs argue, violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution. In asking for it to be removed, the plaintiffs say putting these materials into the public sphere would provide greater government transparency and accountability.
‘Out of the Blocks’ wins third National Endowment for the Arts grant
“Out of the Blocks,” Aaron Henkin and Wendel Patrick’s WYPR show chronicling the lives of people on individual city blocks, has received its third grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the station announced today.
The $20,000 grant is one of 977 awarded in the Art Works category by the federal agency.
“We’re extremely grateful for the NEA’s ongoing trust in the philosophy and methodology of ‘Out of the Blocks,'” Henkin, producer of the series, said in a statement. “This award is a real validation of the belief that everyone’s story is worth listening to and learning from.”
Mary Bubala let go from WJZ-TV after question about race, gender and leadership of mayors
Mary Bubala is out at CBS affiliate WJZ-TV after asking a question last week that linked the race and gender of the last three mayors and wondered if the city needs a new direction in leadership.
“Mary Bubala is no longer a WJZ-TV employee,” Audra L. Swain, vice president and general manager of the network, confirmed in an email to Baltimore Fishbowl. “The station apologizes to its viewers for her remarks.”
Critics slam Mary Bubala’s on air-question about mayoral scandal, calling it racist
Reflecting on Catherine Pugh’s historic resignation on Thursday afternoon, anyone with basic knowledge of the scandal would recall that her ethically questionable children’s book business dealings, currently under state and federal investigative scrutiny, contributed to her decision to step down.
Since the “Healthy Holly” news broke, many have pointed to a prior mayoral scandal that led Sheila Dixon to resign as Baltimore’s mayor less than a decade ago.
And while logic would suggest it was both Pugh’s and Dixon’s financial misdeeds that caused their mayoral terms to end prematurely, WJZ-TV’s Mary Bubala offered a cringe-worthy alternative explanation last night during a political analysis segment with Kaye Whitehead, an associate professor of communication and African and African-American Studies at Loyola University Maryland.
