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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: 2013-05-06
Format: 2013-05-06
Army appellate court denies public access to court records in Manning court-martial
June 27, 2012
One of the most high-profile, domestic military prosecutions in decades will remain tightly sealed from public view. An Army appeals court denied a request for public access to military court records in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning, who was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq for allegedly giving thousands of classified documents to the website WikiLeaks.
New intelligence rules emphasize lie detectors, more investigators in effort to limit leaks to news media
June 27, 2012
In an attempt to "deter and detect" officials leaking information to news media organizations, the head of the country's intelligence community unveiled new measures on Monday, including lie detector tests and inspector general investigations, for preventing unauthorized disclosures.
Texas Supreme Court overturns libel ruling because of judge's bribe
June 27, 2012
The Texas Supreme Court declined to rule on a libel appeal brought against two Texas newspapers by alleged child abusers last Friday because a lower court judge previously accepted a bribe to decide against the publications. The high court also ruled void the trial judge's decision.
Rhode Island revamps public records law to be more requestor-friendly
June 27, 2012
Rhode Island's governor signed into law yesterday what open records advocates have called the first major revisions in 14 years to its Access to Public Records Act -- changes that will both make more records available and give requestors more rights under the act.
Federal appellate court allows former prosecutor to investigate Detroit newspaper's government source
June 27, 2012
A federal appeals court allowed a former Detroit prosecutor to continue investigating the identity of a source who leaked information about an internal ethics probe against him to a Pulitzer-Prize winning newspaper reporter. The decision, which was released Friday, overturns a district court’s ruling that threw out the case last year and now leaves a newspaper vulnerable to investigations eight years after a U.S. Department of Justice insider leaked information to the reporter.
Supreme Court reaffirms corporate speech freedoms in Montana case
June 25, 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Montana ban on corporations’ political contributions today, reaffirming on the state level its 2010 ruling against federal regulations of corporate and union speech.
Justice Department opposes release of "targeted killing" records
June 22, 2012
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion for summary judgment Wednesday in a federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, opposing the release of documents regarding the CIA's use of “targeted killings.”
Supreme Court ruling avoids constitutionality of FCC's indecency policy
June 21, 2012
In a narrowly decided opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously threw out millions of dollars in fines the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) imposed on broadcasters but did not address the First Amendment implications of the agency's indecency policy.
Court denies ESPN access to NCAA investigation records under FERPA
June 19, 2012
The Ohio Supreme Court denied ESPN, Inc. access to certain records relating to the NCAA's investigation of Ohio State University football players who allegedly traded sports memorabilia for tattoos. The court's ruling, released today, cited a federal act that withholds funds to public schools that release educational records in denying ESPN's request.
Google report: Government agency requests for content removal and user data rise globally and in U.S.
June 18, 2012
Requests from government agencies in the U.S. to remove Internet content and reveal more information about online users continues to rise, reflecting a similar trend around the world, according to Google's Transparency Report released Sunday. The biannual report found that in the U.S. from July to December 2011, government agencies -- including local, state and federal government offices -- requested the removal of 6,192 items posted online and information from 12,243 Google user accounts.
Journalist may intervene to challenge gag order in terrorism trial
June 15, 2012
A federal appellate court ruled Monday that a Texas journalist had standing to challenge a lower court’s gag order in an alleged terrorist’s criminal trial, but the court still upheld the order barring those involved in the case from communicating with the media.
Oregon Supreme Court recognizes public right to view trial exhibits, but leaves to courts' discretion
June 15, 2012
The Oregon Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America cannot prevent the release of court documents introduced in a child sexual abuse jury trial that resulted in a $19.4 million verdict against the organization.
Federal appeals court affirms right to access voter registration applications
June 15, 2012
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond (4th Cir.) affirmed today that Virginia election officials violated the National Voter Registration Act by refusing to release completed voter registration applications. The court found that once the applicants' social security numbers were redacted, their applications were "unquestionably" public under the law.
Ill. judge rules officials' tweets, texts, and e-mail messages about public business are public records
June 14, 2012
Electronic communications -- specifically tweets, text and e-mail messages -- between city officials discussing public business are subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, even if they were sent from personal cellphones and accounts, a state circuit judge ruled.
Penn. court holds agency wrongfully ignored records request because they were requested incorrectly
June 14, 2012
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court held Monday that written requests for records that do not comply with certain agency-specific request policies cannot merely be ignored.