The raid of the Marion (Kansas) County Record newsroom occurred just over a year ago. At the time, the newspaper world was shaken.
When asked if he thought this was a harbinger of things to come, publisher Eric Meyer said that he feels “it’s evidence of things already here.”
Meyer warns newsrooms across the country are experiencing things like this on various levels.
The weaponization of law enforcement toward journalists is chilling. Journalists are doing their job as neutral observers to report on the actions of all. Allowing government officials to use police powers to deal with perceived grievances flies in the face of the First Amendment.
Reporters should be allowed to do their job without fear of arrest or raids on their office or home.
“It takes courage to work in community journalism because you are part of the community,” Meyer said.
This story galvanized public opinion and raised awareness of the importance of the job they do.
Meyer hopes that the awareness continues, and it makes public officials think twice before they let it happen again.
Coinciding with the anniversary of the raid, the now ex chief of police who coordinated the whole thing has been charged with felony obstruction of justice. Meyer feels that the charges do not really address the raid of his home and office but rather the cover-up afterward.
A news story by Marion County Record staff writer Phyllis Zorn states former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody was charged Aug. 12 with interference with judicial process and that the charge is not because he raided the Marion County Record and two homes but because he allegedly tried to cover up communication immediately after the raid.