(Pay to report news on federal land? Seems pretty crazy... - promoted by Jay Stevens)
A High Country News blog recently highlighted the fact that the Department of the Interior is planning to require permits to report the news on public lands. In 2000, Congress allowed the National Park Service to require commercial filming permits with the aim of controlling major motion pictures that were a drain on park resources. But now, according to the blog:
...the Department wants to extend its permit and fee requirements to all commercial filming and recording - except for what it defines as "breaking" or "spot" news. This change will seriously limit a reporter's ability to, say, take photographs to illustrate a news story, or record an interview with a park official.
Even some still photography and much audio taping would require permits. The Society for Environmental Journalists and other journalism organizations sent a letter in October taking issue with many aspects of the proposed rule:
"We are aware of a case in the last two weeks, where a reporter working for a news service that feeds public radio stations was told that she needed a permit to interview a Yellowstone wolf biologist."
The letter also highlighted the fact that Yellowstone National Park's current rules are very restrictive and, some might say, flagrantly violate the First Amendment:
"Documentaries filmed specifically for sale to a news station or educational channel are considered a commercial venture and require a permit. News media crews not covering newsworthy/news making events, but shooting human interest, staged events, or other topics are required to obtain a permit before proceeding with filming."
Spot news is exempted, but the definition of spot news is at the discretion of the park's Chief of Public Affairs. In terms of permits, the Park doesn't distinguish between profit and non-profit documentary projects. It costs $200 just to file a permit. If any NPS staff time is required to, say, check up on a documentary film crew or provide an interview, it will be billed to the news organization at $65 an hour per person (with a daily minimum of $200). A permit will be denied if, for instance, "the project depicts activities that are not permitted within the park."
This is frickin' crazy. So, if a crime is committed in a National Park, a documentary crew can't film the evidence? A freelancer radio reporter needs to pay to record the sound of snowmobiles or howling wolves? If Yellowstone is being mismanaged, the Chief of Public Affairs gets to decide if it's spot news or needs a permit?
A hearing in the House National Resources Committee is scheduled for Dec. 12. |
