U.S. won't ban media from New Orleans searches

Rather than fight a lawsuit by CNN, the federal government abandoned its effort Saturday to prevent the media from reporting on the recovery of the dead in New Orleans.

Joint Task Force Katrina "has no plans to bar, impede or prevent news media from their news gathering and reporting activities in connection with the deceased Hurricane Katrina victim recovery efforts," said Col. Christian E. deGraff, representing the task force.

U.S. District Court Judge Keith Ellison issued a temporary restraining order Friday against a "zero access" policy announced earlier in the day by Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who is overseeing the federal relief effort in the city, and Terry Ebbert, the city's homeland security director.

CNN, September 11, 2005

This is certainly a very welcome news. This is exactly how the legal system is supposed to work in our country.

Let us also hope that the big media will not shy from the many harsh allegations surrounding the tragedy in New Orleans which need to be investigated - and then confirmed or refuted.

tags: nola  cnn  media  katrina  law