By Neil Kenworthy
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Maryland chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has decided not to take further action on behalf of a WYPR reporter who was recently banned from attending certain government briefings by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Jennifer Cox, the president of the SPJ Maryland chapter, said in an interview that her group will simply wait for Rawlings-Blake’s term to end on Dec. 6, when the winner of the next week’s mayoral election between Democrat Catherine Pugh, Republican Alan Walden and Green Joshua Harris will take over at City Hall.
Kenneth Burns, WYPR’s metro reporter and vice-president of the Maryland SPJ, was banned from all briefings that follow the Baltimore Board of Estimates meetings after an exchange with Rawlings-Blake during an Oct. 5 briefing.
Cox said that with the 2016 General Election scheduled for Nov. 8, SPJ will simply wait out Burns’ ban, which effectively ends when Rawlings-Blake leaves office.
“[Rawlings-Blake] is a lame duck politician saying I don’t want to deal with someone anymore,” Cox said. “Seems to me, and a lot of other people, she was just sick of him.”
According to Burns, he received an email prior to the Oct. 12 Board of Estimates meeting saying that the mayor has the discretion to determine who can attend the briefings that occur after the board’s meeting. Additionally, the letter said Burns would not be permitted to attend any future briefings that follow the board meetings.
At the following briefing Joel McCord, WYPR’s news director, asked Rawlings-Blake why she, as a public official, can choose who covers the meeting.
Rawlings-Blake said Burns had consistently exhibited verbally and physically threatening behavior particularly to her staff. The mayor did not comment when questioned further about the specifics of Burns’ behavior.
Despite statements from both the Maryland SPJ and the National Association of Black Journalists, along with numerous editorials, the mayor’s office has yet to comment on the matter.
Anthony McCarthy, a spokesman for the mayor, said the mayor’s office never released an official statement on the ban and that Rawlings-Blake would no longer comment on the issue.
“It was news to me because there has never been a complaint from her staff,” said Burns, who has been covering City Hall for almost four years.
Cox said Burns is known to ask difficult questions, which – she said – is part of a journalists’ responsibility.
“I know she doesn’t like some of my questions and that’s her right,” Burns said. “But now, not only have I been banned from a press briefing but I also have a violent accusation.”
According to Burns, he has received Tweets and Facebook messages in support.
Cox said Rawlings-Blake runs the risk of damaging Burns’ life both professionally and personally, but she said there is nothing SPJ can do logistically at this point.
Cases such as Burns’ do not occur often, Cox said. She said she has been part of SPJ for four years and has not seen an incident like this.
“If [Rawlings-Blake] felt legitimately threatened, she does have the right to override the First Amendment,” Cox said. “But that’s different when there is no evidence.”
To combat the issue personally, Burns plans on moving on and focusing on his reporting.
“I did all I can and the best thing for me right now is to do my job and cover city politics,” Burns said. “My day-to-day has not changed.”