The News Media and The Law, Summer 2000

Editorial

 

For reporters confronted by police, some common sense tips

Cover Story

 

Arrests of reporters climb, but precautions can be taken

Newsgathering

 

Reporter arrests continue, but often charges are dropped

 

Arrests of reporters in the last year

 

Reporter starts seven-month jail term over news scene incident

 

Journalist's conviction over removal of jet fabric upheld

 

Link from city government web site cannot be denied based on viewpoint

 

Police impersonate reporters in ploy to end hostage crisis

Reporter's Privilege

 

Contempt order overturned due to invalid seal

 

As a last resort, habeas petitions can keep journalists out of jail

 

Court finds prosecutor's right to cross-examine can trump reporter's privilege

 

Separation orders can keep reporters from covering trials

 

Court won't review contempt order over murder confession subpoena

Content Regulation

 

CDA limits on cable shows unconstitutional

 

Internet content regulations' reliance on 'community standards' is not practical

 

Controversies continue over camera access to courts

 

Cities move to exercise greater control over public access channels

Freedom of Information

 

Waco secrecy damaged public trust, report finds

 

Journalists tell Congress E-FOIA compliance has been inadequate

 

One Foster photo must be released; court must consider more

 

Petition to force open meetings for Nuclear Regulatory Commission fails

 

Civil rights suit not justified by temporary denial of records

 

Sheriff ordered to give newspaper incident reports

 

News organizations win six-year battle for access to coal tax records

Libel

 

Failure to verify comments doesn't show recklessness

 

'Fair report' privilege defeated by attempt to verify comments

 

Police officers treated as public officials for purposes of libel suits

 

'Clear and convincing' evidence not needed to survive dismissal

 

Court upholds verdict, but finds damages based on improper expert testimony

 

Shakur's lyrics attacking 'gangsta rap' critic are protected as opinion

 

Video voyeurism law unconstitutional

Secret Courts

 

Contempt findings over sealed records reversed

 

Lesser standard allowed for gag orders on parties

 

Gag orders on press coverage of juvenile trial invalidated

 

Review of order penalizing station over negative story denied

 

Gag order in reform school abuse case upheld

 

Media must attempt to intervene before appealing closure orders

 

 

State-by-State Legislative Update

 

Sources & Citations