Court Supports Rights Of ‘Nonprofessional’ Journalists E&P Staff March 7, 2002

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Court Supports Rights Of ‘Nonprofessional’ Journalists - 

JV Notes "We help the public.  

Pat Gordon, Lenny Scoletta, Steve Bertorelli and Arthur Alan Deluca must be removed from the Medford TV station as the latter three were part of a nasty group that harassed the public and fractured freedom of the press. They are the bad element that keeps citizens away from public access TV in Medford.  Gordon, shamefully, did the bidding of two ex mayors who loathe free speech"

 E&P Staff  March 7, 2002

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/court-supports-rights-of-nonprofessional-journalists/?fbclid=IwAR3Q55_PkMN52TQYQAesgXWV3ApAuazOZjQOpueVVBRPxOnm5BDCLS408EM

It is the first ruling of its kind, said the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented plaintiff Patricia Demarest in her fight with Athol/Orange Community Television.

“It will open so many more doors for common citizens to use public access as a public forum and a place to speak their minds,” said Demarest, co-producer of the program “Think Tank 2000.”

“It’s a fight for any common citizen to bring forth ideas and generate healthy communities,” she said. Demarest used the program to accuse local officials in the central Massachusetts town of Athol of conflicts of interest. But after she broadcast the grilling she gave one official, she was suspended by the cable company, whose board is appointed by the city. The company also changed its rules to ban controversial programming, requiring broadcasters to get written permission from anyone they portrayed.