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    Digital Journalist's Legal Guide
    Tablet and mobile phone showing news online

    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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    Shut out at Penn State
    The News Media & The Law
    February 1, 2012
    AP Photo by Nabil K. Mark Former Penn State Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky walks past the media on Jan. 22. Last fall, a grand jury indicted former Pennsylvania State University football coach...
    Freedom of Information, School employees
    The fine line between journalism and advocacy
    The News Media & The Law
    February 1, 2012
    AP Photo by M. Spencer Green In this 2009 photo, then Northwestern University professor David Protess, founder of the Medill Innocence Project, talks with journalism students about reporting.
    Reporter's Privilege
    Illinois Supreme Court approves cameras in trial courts
    News
    January 26, 2012
    Cameras and recording devices will be allowed in some Illinois trials after the state’s high court earlier this week authorized extended media coverage on an experimental basis. “...
    Cameras in courts, Secret Courts, Illinois
    Former CIA officer charged with leaking info to journalists
    News
    January 23, 2012
    Former CIA officer John Kiriakou, right, is accused of leaking classified documents to the news media.
    CIA, Guantanamo Bay, Reporter's Privilege, Terrorism-related secrecy, U.S.
    Ill. judge rules that tech blog not covered by shield law
    News
    January 19, 2012
    Writers for a technology blog that published leaked photos of an unreleased Motorola Droid smartphone do not qualify as a reporters for purposes of Illinois' shield law, and so the blog must...
    Qualified privilege, Reporter's Privilege, Shield Law, Illinois
    Some journalists still facing charges after Occupy arrests
    News
    December 20, 2011
    While many journalists covering "Occupy" protests around the country still face arrest and looming court dates, some are learning that they will not face charges.
    Arrest, Newsgathering, Newsgathering, Photographers, Police, U.S.
    Eight year Howling Pig litigation ends in $425K settlement
    News
    December 14, 2011
    Students doctored a photo of a professor for a satirical magazine.
    ACLU, Defamation, Libel, Search warrants, Settlement Agreements, Colorado
    Obama calls on federal agencies to reform record-keeping
    News
    November 28, 2011
    President Obama issued a memorandum today calling for federal agencies to submit specific plans to reform records management practices, and report to the Office of Management and Budget within 120...
    Electronic access, Freedom of Information, U.S.
    Roundup: Treatment of reporters at NYC Occupy raid
    News
    November 17, 2011
    New York City police are facing tough criticism for their treatment of reporters covering Tuesday's overnight raid of the Zuccotti Park base of the Occupy Wall Street movement for what some...
    Newsgathering, Plea agreements, Police, Protesters, Reporter arrests, New York
    Supreme Court rejects proposed rule to limit sealed cases
    News
    November 8, 2011
    The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to adopt a procedural rule proposed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press intended to limit the number of civil cases it puts under seal, citing a...
    Sealed cases, Secret Courts, U.S.