§ 15-11-207 — Cooperation with news media representatives

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism and his or her staff shall cooperate with representatives of newspapers, magazines, and radio and television stations but shall not otherwise be identified with any of these enterprises. (b) (1) All information or publicity originated or developed by the secretary and his or her staff shall be released to all news media at times agreeable to a majority of the representatives thereof who are assigned to the State Capitol Building. (2) However, upon the request of any such representative or other individual for specific information not theretofore originated and developed for a news release by the secretary or his or her staff, the secretary shall furnish the news release to the individual making the request without regard to the provision of subdivision (b)(1) of this section. (c) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as an abridgement of the freedom of the press or speech nor of the right of the executive head of any state agency to discuss freely with the representatives of the various news media any of the affairs of his or her state agency.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5628, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 1955, No. 330, § 8; A.S.A. 1947, § 9-209.