Some Media Object to Being Left Out of Courtroom at King Trial

News reporters preparing for the upcoming Rodney G. King civil rights case learned Friday that their patience will be on trial when court begins next week.

Federal court officials said more than 50 news organizations planning to cover the trial will have to play musical chairs with their rivals during the anticipated two-month court session.

Only 32 seats in the 80-spectator courtroom will be set aside for reporters at the trial of four Los Angeles police officers charged with violating King’s civil rights.

Sixteen will be reserved for major newspapers, wire services and television networks. The other 16 seats must be shared by reporters from more than 50 competing news outlets, said William T. Licatovich, a Washington-based administrator for the U.S. Marshals Service.

The seating allocations were announced to a crowd of 70 reporters, who filled a downtown courtroom to overflowing. The verdict of those left without a seat was unanimous.

“Ridiculous,” said Susan Seager of the Daily Journal.

“No one’s a winner here,” said David Goldstein of KCAL-TV.

“We can’t do our jobs at all if we’re not in there,” said Mary Chaney, an artist assigned to sketch the trial for KTTV.

Those granted full-time seats were The Times; the Associated Press, Reuters, Copley, City and UPI news services; CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and Fox TV networks; Los Angeles Daily News, La Opinion, New York Times and Chicago Tribune newspapers, and American Lawyer magazine.

The losers were quick to call for a mistrial.

KTLA-TV Assignment Manager Hans Laetz told Licatovich that his station is owned by the Tribune Broadcasting Co., which is “very much the network” that Fox is.

Wall Street Journal reporter Amy Stevens complained about American Lawyer’s selection. “You mean a lawyer’s magazine takes precedence over USA Today and Time?” she asked.

Frank Stoltze of radio station KPFK argued: “I move that you strike the Tribune and New York Times from that list.”

No way, said New York Times representative Philipp Gollner. “We ought to be in. We are the New York Times,” he said.

Chicago reporter George de Lama said his Tribune stories will be sent to about 300 other newspapers through a syndicate his paper participates in.

Retorted Brian Bland, a reporter from the excluded AP Radio Network: “Well, we have 700 affiliates.”

Reporter Gregg Zoroya of the Orange County Register said he dreaded returning without a seating pass: “I’ll have to go in hiding for a few days from the editors.”

Those without seats quickly tried to team up with other losers to bid for what Licatovich termed “the shared credentials”--the other 16 seats.

Rival Spanish language TV stations KMEX and KVEA temporarily set aide their differences in hopes of getting in. “A Spanish reporter needs to be there,” said Connie Magana, KVEA’s assignment editor. “We’re combining to make the best of a bad situation,” said Michelle Hedman, KMEX’s assistant assignment editor.

Copley bureau chief Paul Pringle said he secured a seat by proving to Licatovich that his staff covered the first King trial on a daily basis for papers in San Diego, Torrance, Santa Monica and San Pedro.

“I told him we were one of only four companies that did. I told him it took a riot to get other people’s attention,” Pringle said. “I told him it would be an outrage if the Orange County Register got in and we didn’t when they didn’t bother to cover the first trial.”

Others denied reserved seats included the Washington Post and Newsweek.

Licatovich advised reporters left in the cold to listen to the trial on a loudspeaker a few floors down from the courtroom. Unlike the first King beating trial, there will be no television coverage because it is not allowed in federal courts.

“I knew I wouldn’t make some people happy,” Licatovich said. “I thought about not coming here today.”

As the grumbling reporters filed out of the courtroom, several shouted some final advice to Licatovich.

“Next time, you should consider the alternative press,” said one.

And an alternative courtroom, said another: “A bigger one.”