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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
Anti-SLAPP statute does not protect Calif. lawyer from malicious prosecution claim
June 13, 2012
A California appeals court ruled Friday that a malicious prosecution lawsuit against a Los Angeles-based attorney may proceed, reversing a lower court's holding that the state's anti-SLAPP statute protected the lawyer.
Federal court grants media organizations full access to Idaho execution
June 11, 2012
The media will be able to view the full execution of an Idaho death row inmate scheduled to be put to death tomorrow after a federal appeals court granted the journalists' request late Friday. The decision grants The Associated Press and 16 other media organizations’ request for complete access to the execution of convicted murderer Richard A. Leavitt, which is scheduled to take place Tuesday.
Court rules school board members' e-mail did not violate meetings laws
June 8, 2012
E-mail correspondence among school board members prior to the controversial closing of a public elementary school did not constitute secret meetings that violate Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Media organizations request full access to Idaho execution in federal court
June 8, 2012
A federal appeals court heard oral arguments Thursday in The Associated Press and 16 other media organizations’ request for full viewing access to an Idaho execution. AP Photo The Idaho execution chamber
New Jersey judge rejects blogger's newest assertion of statutory privilege
June 7, 2012
A New Jersey judge ruled once again that a blogger is not protected under the state's shield law, rejecting her latest claim that she was writing a nonfiction book. The state Supreme Court ruled last year that Washington private investigator Shellee Hale could not assert the shield law in a 2008 defamation suit against her and remanded the case to the trial court.
New York high court issues mixed ruling over access to names of informants in decades-old Communist probe
June 6, 2012
The names of informants who were promised confidentiality by the government during the New York City Board of Education’s “Anti-Communist Investigations" more than half a century ago will remain secret, the Court of Appeals of New York ruled Tuesday.
Media object to proposed Department of Labor press controls in Congressional hearing
June 6, 2012
News media executives and free press advocates expressed concern today at a House congressional committee regarding the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposal to require journalists to use government-owned equipment when reporting newly released government job statistics.
Judge grants motion to dismiss 'birther' libel case under D.C. Anti-SLAPP Act, First Amendment
June 5, 2012
A libel case brought by a 'birther' -- those who question whether President Obama is a natural-born American and eligible to be president -- ended prematurely when a U.S. district judge granted a magazine's motion to dismiss under the D.C. Anti-SLAPP Act, which protects speech relating to issues of public interest.
Supreme Court holds Secret Service agents have immunity in arrest of Cheney critic
June 5, 2012
The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a Colorado man who claimed he was retaliated against for expressing his political opposition toward then Vice President Dick Cheney cannot sue U.S. Secret Service agents who believed they had probable cause to arrest him.
Judge changes mind, prohibits tweeting and other electronic communication in Sandusky trial
June 4, 2012
After reporters asked for clarification on a judicial order that allowed them to tweet -- with one restriction -- during the Jerry Sandusky trial, a Pennsylvania judge changed his mind Monday and banned all electronic communication in the courtroom.
Texas court finds environmental website publisher not entitled to protection under state shield law
May 31, 2012
A Texas state judge recently ordered a local website publisher to turn over e-mail messages and other newsgathering materials, finding she did not qualify as a journalist under the state's shield law.
Penn. high court orders release of bids received by private company in operating public stadium
May 30, 2012
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yesterday that records of a private entity acting on behalf of a public agency may be subject to the state’s open records laws.
Federal appeals court finds right to privacy over death images constitutionally protected
May 30, 2012
A federal appeals court ruled for the first time that the right to privacy over death images is protected under the U.S. Constitution.
Montgomery circuit court seals file in U.S. district judge's divorce proceedings
May 29, 2012
Three journalists requested access to the sealed file of an Alabama-based federal judge's divorce proceedings wrought with accusations of domestic violence, drug abuse and the judge's alleged affair with his court bailiff. The journalists and other legal watchers have expressed concern that the court quietly sealed the records without taking the standard procedural steps.
Oklahoma court grants media limited access to state foster care records
May 29, 2012
An Oklahoma appeals court on Friday affirmed a lower court’s decision to grant the media limited access to state agency records regarding foster parents in 14 counties. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) must provide names, birth dates and addresses of foster parents -- otherwise confidential information -- to the World Publishing Company and KOKI Fox 23 News for the sole purpose of determining whether foster parents are convicted felons.