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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.

News

Format: 2013-05-18
Format: 2013-05-18
D.C. appeals court issues redacted opinion in sealed corruption case
May 16, 2013
A federal appeals court unsealed a redacted version of an opinion Thursday in a high-profile but secretive Washington, D.C. corruption case, in response to a letter from the Reporters Committee.
White House, lawmakers push for federal reporter shield law in wake of AP phone records seizure
May 15, 2013
Three lawmakers announced this week they were planning to revive legislation establishing a federal reporter shield law, just days after it was revealed the U.S. Justice Department secretly obtained two months’ worth of phone records from the Associate Press.
Justice Department defends decisions in secret seizure of AP phone records as criticism mounts
May 14, 2013
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole responded to the controversy over the Associated Press phone records subpoena today, unapologetically defending the Department of Justice's secret subpoenas for the records of more than 20 separate telephone lines assigned to the AP and its journalists in April and May 2012.
Tenn. ag-gag law might be unconstitutional, according to state atty. general
May 10, 2013
An animal cruelty bill passed in Tennessee is “constitutionally suspect” because its provisions on giving footage to law enforcement might be a prior restraint and unconstitutionally burden newsgathering, the state’s top lawyer said Thursday. HB 1191, known as the “ag-gag” bill, requires any footage of animal cruelty to be surrendered to law enforcement within 48 hours of recording. Supporters of the bill, which was lobbied for by animal agriculture groups, say this surrender provision protects animals.
Judge cites First Amendment as reason for keeping files in coach's child pornography case sealed
May 7, 2013
A Minnesota trial judge Friday denied a media effort to unseal investigative materials in the case of a former college football coach who was accused of possessing child pornography. Blue Earth County District Court Judge Krista Jass held that both Minnesota public records law and the First Amendment prevent public access to the files.
Hawaii shield law will expire after lawmakers unable to reconcile competing bills
May 3, 2013
Just five years after passing its groundbreaking media shield law, Hawaii lawmakers have effectively killed any hopes of adopting a permanent version of the law, which is set to expire next month. Lawmakers in the House and Senate passed differing versions of the law this week that would protect journalists from disclosing confidential sources and notes. With the Legislature set to adjourn this week, the disagreement between the House and Senate ensures the current shield law will expire on June 30.
Newspaper's statements about school principal are opinion and not defamatory, N.Y. judge rules
May 1, 2013
Articles published by the New York Daily News calling a former school principal a “firebrand” and a “principal of hate” are not defamatory because the statements are opinions, a New York Supreme Court judge ruled last week. The Supreme Court is the trial-level court in New York.
Oakland mayoral candidate loses appeal of unsuccessful defamation suit against weekly newspaper
April 30, 2013
A three-judge California appeals court panel has denied an Oakland mayoral candidate’s appeal of a lower court’s decision to toss out her libel suit against a weekly newspaper concerning coverage of her campaign. Marcie Hodge, a local politician who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Oakland in 2010, sued the East Bay Express for defamation soon after a September 2010 column ran in the newspaper questioning the motivations behind her bid.
Supreme Court: States can prohibit non-residents from using public records laws to gather information
April 29, 2013
States do not violate the U.S. Constitution when their public records laws prevent out-of-state residents from accessing government records, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled on Monday.
Judge rules N.Y. newspaper protected by fair report privilege
April 26, 2013
A New York trial court judge dismissed a defamation claim brought by a convicted sex offender against a local newspaper that reported on his arrest and guilty plea. Queens County Judge Sidney F. Strauss concluded this week that Wave Publishing Co., publishers of the weekly newspaper The Wave in Rockaway Beach, were protected by the state’s fair report privilege for a 2008 story concerning the criminal charges brought by local authorities against Jacek Marczewski, the custodian of a synagogue in Far Rockaway, Queens.
Hawaii lawmakers committee pass draft of bill that weakens state reporter shield law
April 26, 2013
A panel of Hawaii lawmakers on Thursday approved a draft that severely limits the soon-expiring state reporter shield law. The most current version of the bill -- seen as a compromise between House and Senate versions -- removes protections for free newspapers, expands the circumstances under which law enforcement authorities can subpoena journalists’ notes and excludes protections for bloggers.
Judge orders Gawker to take down Hulk Hogan sex video, accompanying article and reader comments
April 26, 2013
The popular website Gawker partially complied with a Florida judge’s order to take down a clip of a Hulk Hogan sex tape but refused to delete the accompanying article, citing the restraint as a violation of the gossip-news outlet's First Amendment rights. Pinellas County Circuit Judge Pamela A.M. Campbell on Wednesday ordered Gawker to take down the video, the 1,400-word accompanying article and the 466 user-submitted comments at the famous professional wrestler’s request.
Media organizations asks judge to dismiss gag order imposed by prosecutors
April 25, 2013
Two Georgia media organizations are asking a judge to dismiss an unusual gag order placed on 35 Atlanta Public School employees charged with altering standardized tests in a widespread cheating scandal. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News (WSB-TV) filed a joint motion to lift the gag orders on those charged in the cheating scandal. District Attorney Paul Howard agreed to lower the defendants’ bail bond amounts if the defendants agreed not to talk to reporters.
Hawaii lawmakers set to resume deliberations on state shield law
April 22, 2013
Hawaii lawmakers are expected to meet again this week to work on reconciling competing versions of a bill to make the state’s reporter shield law permanent. H.B. 622 was originally drafted to remove the law's June 30 expiration date. But lawmakers in both the state House and Senate passed amended versions of the bill limiting who can take advantage of the privilege.
Justice will no longer name individuals investigated in price-fixing cases unless they are charged
April 18, 2013
Business executives under investigation or being questioned about price fixing practices -- but not yet charged -- will no longer be publicly named in corporate plea agreement documents submitted to courts by the Department of Justice. The new policy will also completely exclude from plea agreements the names of employees who are not cooperating with the price-fixing or bid-rigging investigation, as well as those who can’t be tracked down or are still being investigated. If they are charged, their names will be made public.