AGENDA 

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SESSIONS - FRIDAY, APRIL 28

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CHECK IN: WELCOME REPORTERS!

Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, 12:30pm - 1:00pm

 

Introduction to Reporters Workshop 2023

1:00pm - 1:15pm

Amy Mohan, Sherrard Roe Voigt Harbison

Chris Baker, Tennessee Association of Broadcasters

Barry Kolar, Tennessee Bar Association

 

Session 1: Open Meetings Act

1:15pm - 2:00pm

Paul McAdoo, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Materials - McAdoo Open Meetings PowerPoint

 

Session 2: An Inside Look at Investigative Journalism

2:15pm - 3:30pm

Moderator: Amy Mohan, Sherrard, Roe, Voigt, Harbison

Meribah Knight, WPLN News

Ben Hall, NewsChannel 5 Investigative Reporter

Demetria Kalodimos, Nashville Banner

Link: Investigative Reporting

 

Session 3: Access to Government: Open Records

3:45pm - 5:00pm

Rick Hollow, Hollow & Hollow, LLC

Deborah Fisher, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

Seth May, Office of Open Records Counsel

Materials - May PowerPoint (shortened version)

Materials - May PowerPoint (extended version)

Materials - Fisher, TCOG Public Records handout

Materials - Fisher, Public Records presentation

 

Session 4: Reporters Privilege

5:00pm - 5:30pm

Doug Pierce, King & Ballow

Materials - Shield Law TN

Materials - Statute

 

Networking Event & Reception

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Maggiano's West End

3106 West End Ave

Nashville, TN 37203

 

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SESSIONS - SATURDAY, APRIL 29

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Networking & Breakfast

8:30am - 9:00am

Tennessee Association of Broadcasters

 

Session 1: Covering State & Local Government

9:00am - 10:15am

Moderator: Clint Brewer, Imperium Public Strategies

Bob Mendes, Sherrard, Roe, Voigt, Harbison

Steve Cavendish, Nashville Banner

Lauren Topping, Bureau of Ethics & Campaign Finance

 

Session 2: Pre-Publication Exercise / Defamation Overview

10:15am - 11:45am

Ron Harris, Neal Harwell

Paul McAdoo, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Materials - McAdoo, Defamation & Related Torts PowerPoint

Materials - McAdoo, Pre-Publication Review 

Link: Open Government Guide for Tennessee

 

Lunch Break

11:45am - 12:15pm

 

Session 3: Covering the Courts: A View from the Bench

12:15pm - 1:30pm

Moderator: Robb Harvey, Holland & Knight, LLP, Nashville

The Hon. Valerie Smith, Circuit Court Judge, 30th Judicial District (Shelby County)

The Hon. Stacy Street, Criminal Court Judge, 1st Judicial District Criminal Court (Washington, Unicoi, Carter and Johnson Counties) 

The Hon. Angelita Blackshear Dalton, Criminal Court Judge, 20th Judicial District Criminal Court (Davidson County)

Materials - Harvey PowerPoint