WDAM, an NBC-affiliate in Hattiesburg, announced last week that it has received the support of several major media organizations in its appeal to the Mississippi State Supreme Court seeking the right to air video that reportedly shows abuse of inmates at a local juvenile detention center.
WDAM has been fighting an injunction on broadcasting the footage ordered by youth court judge Mike McPhail on January 13. McPhail said that the station did not provide enough evidence to show a need for airing the footage, which allegedly includes images of guards at the Forrest County Detention Center beating juvenile inmates.
According to the Raycom Media-owned station, over 30 media organizations are backing WDAM in its appeal, including CBS Broadcasting, Tribune Co., Hearst Corp., and the RTDNA. Full list of supporters after the jump…
The following organizations are seeking permission to file a friend of the court brief in support of WDAM…
Mississippi Association of Broadcasters
Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information, Inc.
Mississippi Press Association
Advance Publications, Inc.
A.H. Belo Corporation
Allbritton Communications Company
ALM Media, LLC
Atlantic Media Company
Associated Press
Belo Television
Cable News Network, Inc.
CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Dow Jones & Co., Inc.
E.W. Scripps Company
Forbes LLC
Gannett Co., Inc.
Harman Newsweek LLC
Hearst Corporation
Home Box Office, Inc.
LIN Television Corporation
Media General, Inc.
Meredith Corporation
NBC Universal, Inc.
New York Times Company
NPR
The Radio Television Digital News Association
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Society of Professional Journalists
Time, Inc.
Tribune Company
The Washington Post