Three New York journalists, Rafael Martínez Alequin, Ralph E. Smith and David Wallis, have been denied press credentials by the NYPD with little explanation or appeals process. All three write for online journals and believe that they are being denied press credentials because they write for non-traditional media. The lawsuit alleges that the current Press Credential procedure violates the Constitutional Rights of the plaintiffs and interferes with the reporting of news in NYC.

Rafael Martínez Alequin, a long-time critic of Mayor (Tsar) Bloomberg, publishes the New York City Free Press, an online version of his earlier print version, the Free Press (originally the Brooklyn Free Press). His stated philosophy for the NYC Free Press is:

The philosophy and ideals are the same as it was in the original publication — to give writers the opportunity to develop their craft and to provide readers with diverse opinions on issues related to poverty, racial and ethnic issues, and other essential topics often neglected by the mainstream media. Especially now, when the current administration in Washington is misleading Americans as well as the citizens all over the world to support a war with Iraq. As the winds of war are lurking all around us, more than ever we must let the peace abiding people of the world that there must be other ways to bring the culprits of terrorism into the world judiciary system to pay for their atrocious acts. This notonly includes their dastardly act at the World Trade Center, but their cowardly acts against Palestians, Israelis, Afghans, Philipinos, Indians, South and Central Americans and the many other people all over the world who have been victims of terrorism both by civilians and governments.

As we venture into cyberspace, is it our hope to bring a ray of sanity into this turbulent time. We will welcome articles from published and un-published authors, whether they be fiction or in depth analysis of the present political winds.

Ralph E. Smith publishes a href="http://www.guardianchronicle.com/">The Guardian Chronicle, an online publication dedicated to "building bridges to law enforcement, community, youth and you."

David Wallis is founder and CEO of Featurewell.com, "an electronic marketplace for the global publishing industry. This website provides editors with the opportunity to purchase and republish top quality journalism." According to the Featurewell.com site, David Wallis:

specializes in interviewing business and political leaders, such as Vaclav Havel, Jimmy Carter and Lee Iacocca. Wallis, who contributes to The New York Times Magazine, Slate.com, The Washington Post and the Times of London, is the editor of "Killed: Great Journalism Too Hot To Print" (Nation Books, 2004) and "Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression" (W.W. Norton, 2007)

All three have recently been denied press credentials by the NYPD even though they were previously granted such credentials. From The Guardian Chronicle:

A Press Conference was held Wednesday, November 12, 2008 to announce the filing of a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of New York City’s system of granting press credentials to journalists. Recently, three journalists who have previously been granted press credentials were arbitrarily denied press credentials. This civil rights lawsuit alleges that the policy and practices of the City of New York have resulted in an unconstitutional and unlawful interference with and prevention of news coverage in New York City and beyond and have violated the constitutional rights of freedom of the press and speech of journalists.

You can hear this Press Conference here.

The NY Times reports:

“The system of granting press credentials in New York City has run amok and needs to be changed immediately,” Norman Siegel, the civil-liberties lawyer, who is representing the three men in the complaint, said in a phone interview. “The right of a free press is a cornerstone of our constitutional system, and it’s a right that must be respected.”

Needless to say, this kind of thing affects all of us who write for online publications. To date I have had little problems getting press credentials in those rare occasions I have needed them, but I haven't really been in that situation too often (since I have a day job!).