A proposal to allow certain media organizations access to police radio channels is on the verge of passage.
Honolulu Police officials and media representatives alike were largely favorable Thursday toward the latest version of a contentious bill aimed improving police transparency regarding in-progress operations.
The proposal would designate certain media organizations as “trusted,” allowing them access to HPD’s dispatch radios. Such organizations must be certified broadcasters by the Federal Communications Commission, to have been a reputable outlet for at least 10 years, or be otherwise listed as a publication of note for the dissemination of public notices.
Aloha State Daily, an outlet founded only one year ago, would not qualify.
Despite previous misgivings about the measure, HPD interim chief Rade Vanic told the Honolulu City Council Committee on Public Safety and Economy Thursday that he supports its intent.
Vanic had previously warned that releasing information about current police actions could compromise officers’ safety or potentially disclose confidential private information.
The latest version of the bill alleviates this concern by codifying “timely emergency messaging alerts.” These alerts would be messages about in-progress incidents sent to the aforementioned trusted media outlets no more than 10 minutes after HPD receives that information.
The alerts are required to include the nature of the incident, the street name and block where it took place and a general description at minimum, but would be prohibited from including personal identifiable information or other protected data.
Based on the text of the bill, the release of the alerts would not necessarily preclude trusted media sources from also having access to police radio channels, although the specifics for providing that access are not specified. The bill requires the HPD chief to develop a plan providing radio access or timely alerts to media sources, but not necessarily both.
HPD is already testing the policy, Vanic said.
“They’re in the process of going through data testing,” Vanic said. “We released it to 16 individuals already, executives and select reporters. So they’re testing it out.”
The only complaint Vanic still had with the bill was the requirement for annual reports to the City Council detailing the information being released to the media. Vanic said these reports were “not a real big ask” but questioned how useful those reports would actually be.
“If you guys want an update, it’s as easy as asking us,” Vanic told the council committee.
KITV President Jason Hagiwara spoke in support of the measure, saying it “allows journalists to share vital news to viewers, readers and listeners.”
Retired TV reporter John Deutzman supported the bill, but questioned its potential for legitimizing certain news organizations over others.
“I don’t think the city or any government is in any position to designate what a legitimate media organization is,” Deutzman said. “You’re in no position to exclude the many online social media platforms that I rely on for breaking news.”
In any case, the committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill, and forwarded it to the full council for its third and final reading.
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