This is in response to last week’s editorial about video taping elections. As the news director of Phoenix 14 News for the past year and a half, this issue is very important to me and the crew of the newscast. We agree with The Pendulum that being allowed to videotape elections is very important and is key in maintaining fairness at the ballot box. The media is supposed to be the watchdog of the government (and other agencies and policies) and if we are not allowed to videotape at election locations, then we cannot do our job correctly and be the watchdog we are designed to be.

It is also important to note that elections are a public event and there is no law against videotaping public events in the public domain.

The issue is being taken up by the North Carolina Sunshine Center, based here at Elon, to be corrected. The organization will fight to have the elections open like they should be.

But, while I agree with the arguments put forward in the article, I have some problems with the facts that were presented in the editorial.

The incident in question involving ESTV personnel did happen, but not in the way described. While covering elections for Vote 2006, one reporter was sent to the Graham polling location (Graham High School) with a camera. When he arrived on the site, simple rules were put in place. He was to remain a certain distance from the voting area and he was not to shoot anyone’s completed ballot.

The reporter followed these regulations and no finished ballots were taped. One voter complained about the camera being present after the fact, but the reporter was not rolling tape at the time. No legal action was taken against the station.

But our adviser received several phone calls from the local election board official and the tape from that location was turned over to be reviewed. We were informed that the state would be notified. We have heard nothing regarding this situation since.

We at Phoenix 14 News believe that reporting is key to the public interest, and would do nothing intentionally to infringe upon other people’s rights and privacy. We just wish to get the correct facts about the incident into the public eye. Elections are an important aspect to democracy and something that we take very seriously.

Student: Kyle Andersen Class of ’08 - 11/14/07