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    Digital Journalist's Legal Guide
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    Everything online journalists need to protect their legal rights. This free resource culls from all Reporters Committee resources and includes exclusive content on digital media law issues.

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    The fast, the furious, and the executive privilege
    The News Media & The Law
    November 1, 2012
    AP Photo/Stephan Savoia Attorney General Eric Holder speaks in Boston on June 26 while a vote loomed to hold him in contempt of Congress for withholding records of Operation Fast and Furious.
    Freedom of Information
    Activist groups fight subpoenas for data from more than 100 e-mail accounts
    News
    October 23, 2012
    The Electronic Frontier Foundation and EarthRights International have filed motions to quash subpoenas issued by Chevron Corp. to three e-mail providers for the data and location information of more...
    E-mail, Reporter's Privilege, Subpoenas, California
    Alaska Supreme Court rules private e-mail messages are public records
    News
    October 15, 2012
    An Alaska Supreme Court decision makes private e-mail messages containing government business subject to the state Public Records Act but also makes obtaining those records difficult. Friday's...
    E-mail, FOIA reform, Freedom of Information, Government records, Public officials, Public records, Alaska
    OWS protester argues that First and Fourth Amendments apply to tweets
    News
    October 9, 2012
    An Occupy Wall Street protester is challenging a court’s decision requiring his tweets to be handed over to New York prosecutors, arguing that his First and Fourth Amendment rights should apply...
    Contempt of court, Internet, Motion to dismiss, Protesters, Reporter's Privilege, New York
    Rating online transparency
    The News Media & The Law
    August 1, 2012
    Even before Twitter volunteered to support Malcolm Harris in court this past spring, digital rights advocates monitored the legal efforts taken by the micro-blogging website and other Internet...
    Reporter's Privilege
    The FCC's role
    Guide
    Reporter's Recording Guide
    August 1, 2012
    In addition to state and federal laws governing the taping of phone calls, the Federal Communications Commission has its own requirements concerning such taping. The FCC requires that an individual...
    Privacy
    Reporters Committee launches RCFP FirstAid mobile app for reporters
    Press Release
    July 23, 2012
    The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has launched RCFP FirstAid, a mobile application that gives reporters in the field immediate access to legal resources, particularly in situations...
    Fla. appeals court awards attorney's fees for county's undue delay in complying with records request
    News
    May 18, 2012
    A Florida appeals court ruled today that a county could not avoid paying attorney's fees to a successful records requester who sued for access merely by demonstrating that it did not delay in...
    Attorney fees, Fees, Freedom of Information, Writ of mandamus, Florida
    Open & Shut
    The News Media & The Law
    May 1, 2012
      AP Photo by Nam Y. Huh
    Fossil FOIA requests
    The News Media & The Law
    May 1, 2012
    Photo provided by Monte Finkelstein Monte Finklestein has the fourth oldest unfulfilled FOIA request among federal agencies. In 1993, history professor submitted a request for Allied troop movements...
    Freedom of Information