[Let me offer my apologies for my oversight in not mentioning SPJ. What SPJ does is laudable, and their help on the Vanessa Leggett case is invaluable. --DBM] ********* From: "Tatum, Christine" <CTatumat_private> To: "'declanat_private'" <declanat_private> Cc: "'mrtraskaat_private'" <mrtraskaat_private> Subject: Vanessa Leggett case Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 11:18:37 -0500 Hi, Declan - My name is Christine Tatum, and I am chairwoman of the Society of Professional Journalists' Legal Defense Fund. Thanks very, very much for drawing attention to the Vanessa Leggett case. I was delighted to see all the information you provided -- but disappointed that you failed to mention the Society of Professional Journalists' efforts to help Leggett. SPJ's Legal Defense Fund has paid half of Leggett's legal fees -- $12,500 -- and has issued a challenge to newsrooms across the nation to make up the difference. So far, we've collected money from several individual donors and news organizations, including the Houston Chronicle. SPJ's donation is the single largest LDF grant ever awarded. There is no other resource like the Legal Defense Fund in the nation. Hardly a week goes by that we don't hear from a journalist who needs help. We, too, have established a fund for Leggett. Donations can be sent to the Society's headquarters. You can find more information about where to send donations and how to help Leggett at http://www.spj.org/news/082301_alert.htm. Here's a brief description of SPJ, taken from its Web site: "SPJ is the nation's largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ also promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press." Again, thanks for spreading the word about the Leggett case. This is the most significant First Amendment case to come down the pike in years. I salute you for staying on top of it. Sincerely, Christine Tatum ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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