[BWNA] Re: [BWNA-Board] Video-taping of meetings

[Rob Vaughn]

Albert wrote:

>>4 separate people came up to me and told me they did not appreciate 
>>the meeting being taped last night.  They felt it was intimidating 
>>and not welcoming.

If I was able to attend, then it would have been 5.

Jim wrote:

>Were any of these people NOT members of the board and NOT 
>city/government employees.

What status does being a member of the board give someone?  I don't believe it
qualifies as a "public figure" since the BWNA is a tax-exempt private
organization, nor a "city/gov't employee".  As such, taping them would require
their permission, or at least a "Release Form" if you intend to broadcast the
tapes in any way.  Otherwise you're opening yourself up to a number of kinds
of civil lawsuits, Jim.

>I ask because I usually avoid photographing the general public at 
>these meetings, although it is not obvious to people in front of the 
>camera that I am actually shooting over their heads and not including them.

That may be true, but the whole taping thing is the other reason I've not
attended meetings, and I believe it can be stifling and shy people might not
want to participate because of it.  I don't think you want to stifle
participation, do you?

>Please keep in mind that neighborhood meetings are a city government 
>function and, like any government function, should be fully public 
>and that includes the media.

I keep hearing that, but I personally would like to see some kind of legal
explanation of why a private, tax-exempt organization is part of the city
gov't?  We went through this when I was in the Sunnyside NA and it was made
clear the city does *not* consider NAs to be city entities in any way.

>Any TV station can walk in and tape for TV broadcast, so what is the problem?

No they can't, again, they need to get a release signed if they interview
someone who's not a public figure, or they risk a lawsuit.

I believe the compromise brought up in the past is to record only the vocals
of the meetings as that does not bring in the same conditions and
possibilities of a lawsuit, but provides a record as Jim desires?

Albert, I would like to again make the suggestion of the compromise of audio
recording only to resolve this.

Cheers, Rob V.

--
robv at sound-o-mat.com