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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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    Company seeks anonymity in suit over product safety database
    News
    October 19, 2011
    An unnamed manufacturer challenging an online database of safety complaints has asked the court to allow it to proceed anonymously, arguing that the public filing of legal documents implicates the...
    Anonymous plaintiffs, Civil cases, First Amendment, Sealed cases, Secret Courts, Maryland
    To interview mayor, reporters must register as lobbyists
    News
    October 14, 2011
    A South Florida mayor pledged this week not to speak to reporters unless they register as lobbyists. Under a new county ethics code, all elected city officials in Broward County, Florida must record...
    Lobbyists, Newsgathering, Florida
    San Diego newspaper sued over accidental records release
    News
    September 23, 2011
    A California judge denied earlier this week a hospital district's application for a temporary restraining order in connection with a lawsuit it filed against a San Diego newspaper over the...
    Prior Restraints, California
    Boston paper's reports on its own libel suit not defamatory
    News
    September 16, 2011
    Claims that the Boston Herald further defamed a famous musician in its coverage of his libel suit against the newspaper were dismissed Wednesday by a Massachusetts judge, who ruled that the rocker...
    Fair report privilege, Libel, Massachusetts
    Reporters Committee releases 6th edition of its state-by-state Open Government Guide
    Press Release
    September 13, 2011
    The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press today published the 6th Edition of its Open Government Guide, a comprehensive overview of open records and open meetings laws in all 50 states and the...
    Freedom of Information, Government openness, Open meetings, Open records, Transparency, U.S.
    Student journalists' email must be turned over to state
    News
    September 9, 2011
    An Illinois judge ruled earlier this week that while the state's shield law covers student journalists, more than 500 email messages between a Northwestern University professor and his students...
    Reporter's Privilege, Shield Law, Student speech, Subpoenas, Illinois
    Third Circuit issues guidance on anonymous cases
    News
    August 9, 2011
    The U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia (3rd Cir.) issued an opinion last week providing trial courts with more specific guidance in deciding when to allow parties to proceed anonymously in federal...
    Anonymous plaintiffs, Secret Courts, 3rd Cir.
    Wash. police investigate creator of cop parody videos
    News
    August 8, 2011
    Police officers in Washington state are seeking to unmask and prosecute the anonymous creator of a series of videos critical of the department in what officials describe as a cyberstalking...
    Prior Restraints, Search warrants, Washington
    Judge explains decision to quash Risen subpoena
    News
    August 4, 2011
    New York Times reporter James Risen will not need to reveal his confidential source in the leak trial of a former CIA officer because the U.S. government failed to show a compelling interest in his...
    CIA, Confidential sources, Leaks, Reporter's Privilege, Subpoenas, Virginia
    Judge quashes second subpoena to New York Times reporter in CIA leaker case
    The News Media & The Law
    August 1, 2011
    From the Summer 2011 issue of The News Media & The Law, page 5. A New York Times investigative reporter will not have to reveal the identity of his confidential source when he testifies in the...