Documentary Seized to Premiere in Albany on November 7
Filmmaker Sharon Liese will present her documentary about a Kansas newspaper raid at the Palace Theatre.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Documentary
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On November 7, 2026, the documentary Seized will screen at Albany's Palace Theatre. The film explores the 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record.
Why it matters
The project examines the intense friction between local law enforcement and a community newspaper. It highlights the lasting human impact of an investigation into a liquor license dispute.
Filmmaker Sharon Liese secured 16 hours of official police bodycam and security footage for the production. The film explores data showing two-thirds of Americans do not trust the media.
The players
Sharon Liese
She is the filmmaker who conducted a two-and-a-half-year investigation to produce the documentary.
Joan Meyer
She was a 98-year-old publisher whose death was linked by a coroner to the stress of the police raid.
Eric Meyer
He is a publisher of the Marion County Record who experienced the police raid on his home and workplace.
Gideon Cody
He was the Police Chief whose past conduct was being investigated by the newspaper prior to the raid.
The details
The documentary details the August 11, 2023, police raid on the Marion County Record newsroom and the home of publishers Eric and Joan Meyer. A coroner concluded that the stress of the seizure contributed to the death of 98-year-old Joan Meyer the following day.
Timeline
August 11, 2023: Police raided the Marion County Record newsroom and the publishers' home.
August 12, 2023: Joan Meyer died following the stress of the police seizure.
November 7, 2026: The documentary Seized will screen at the Palace Theatre.
Industry Dynamics
The film underscores the ongoing struggle for local news credibility as documented by long-term polling trends. It positions the narrative within the broader shift of public skepticism toward legacy media institutions.
Residents can view the investigative film at the Palace Theatre in Albany. Tickets and specific screening times are managed through the venue's upcoming event schedule.
The takeaway
This documentary illustrates the significant personal and societal consequences that follow conflicts between local authorities and journalists. Viewers can reflect on the importance of transparency in law enforcement interactions with the public.
Further reading
Explore more films at the Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times Union.
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