BCT Editorial – 3/6/06

This page was last updated on March 6, 2006.

Salutes & Boots; Editorial; Beaver County Times; March 6, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“Salute: To Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert C. Gallo for overturning a district judge’s ruling against Marty Griffin, a reporter with KDKA-TV. As part of a story he was reporting on lax security at Port Authority of Allegheny County facilities, Griffin walked around a garage and boarded a bus without being stopped. Instead of seeing the report for what it was - a security wake-up call - PAT officials charged him with trespassing. A district judge convicted Griffin of a summary offense, which carried a fine and costs. PAT should have never filed charges in the first place. After all, Griffin’s only crime was to embarrass PAT officials.”

[RWC] This is another example of the press believing it should not have to obey the same laws as the rest of us.

It doesn’t matter that the reporter may have done a service. If the reporter committed a crime, his conviction should have been upheld.