If you’re an employee at the city of Henderson and you talk to the media, you can now be fired for it.
A story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal Saturdaysaid the media policy is a one of a kind in Clark County,--the first and only to threaten employees with firing if they talk to reporters.
Bud Craner, Henderson's public information officer, told KNPR's State of Nevada the policy is not about suppressing information but about making sure the correct information is given to the news media.
“It isn't at all to stifle information it's to make sure that information is being provided," Craner said.
No one working for the city of Henderson has been fired or disciplined for talking to a reporter yet, but the concern expressed from the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada is that the policy may have a chilling effect on the media.
Craner emphasized the policy does not cover whistleblowers, because they're protected under Nevada law.
He also said the police doesn't stop city employees from talking to the media but the city's public relations department just needs to know about it and be present for the interview.
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Bud Craner, Public Information Officer, City of Henderson