The News Media and The Law, Spring 2001

Editorial

 

The Florida flip-flop

Freedom of Information

 

Earnhardt law reverses access to open records

 

 

Veteran auto racing writer chased the story and the truth

 

From start to finish

 

Autopsy photos are often used to refute official conclusions

 

Three principles fueled Sentinel's fight to review photos

 

From the hotline

Libel

 

A renaissance in speech crime prosecutions

 

Criminal defamation laws are 19th century holdover

 

Criminal libel as political tactic

 

Sued into silence

 

Supreme Court denies review of libel suit against author, publisher

 

'Hit list' kept by anti-abortionists deemed protected speech

 

Scientology defamation lawsuit against Time magazine dismissed

 

High court rejects subpoena by anonymous corporation

 

Incitement lawsuit against Stone, "Natural Born Killers" dismissed

 

Jury must entertain 'serious' doubts

Content Regulation

 

FCC defines the indefinable

 

New technology forces courts to examine copyright

 

Media to clean up election coverage without lawmakers

 

Occupational hazards of live television

 

Notable advancement in camera access in a few states

Freedom of Information

 

Slow starters

 

Tip Sheet

 

Bush adopts inherited Clinton medical privacy rules

 

Open records request wins unanimous approval

 

Newspaper wins right to inspect a clean incident report

 

Secret air bag design data defeat public's safety interest

 

City must disclose details about drug-smuggling cops

 

One opinion spoils spirit of federal access law

 

Newspapers complete Florida recount

Reporter's Privilege

 

Aiding police presents a credibility liability

 

Journalists successfully exercise privilege in courts

Newsgathering

 

The Pentagon Papers, 30 years later

 

Execution witnesses fight to see the entire procedure

 

An AP reporter's tally

 

Reporters on the job continue to encounter official roadblocks

Secret Courts

 

Librarians, libertarians lead opposition to law requiring filters for public computers

 

American Library Association statement on library use of filtering software

 

Letters from criminal defendant open to newspaper

 

Rule for prosecutors keeps public comment to a minimum

 

 

Legislative Update

 

Open & Shut

 

Sources & Citations