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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: 2013-05-07
Format: 2013-05-07
N.H. high court rules communications with counsel in empty public meeting exempt from Right-to-Know Law
May 15, 2012
The New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision to deny a firefighters' association access to redacted portions of minutes from over a dozen public local government meetings held between 2000 and 2009. The court said that because no one was in the audience at the 14 public meetings, minutes involving the government agency's attorney are confidential.
Charges dropped against photographer arrested during Occupy protest
May 14, 2012
A state judge today dismissed the remaining charges against a Santa Cruz photographer about to stand trial for his coverage of an “Occupy” demonstration in Santa Cruz last year. Bradley Stuart Allen was charged in February with a felony conspiracy, a felony vandalism and two misdemeanor trespassing charges after he published his photographs of a November demonstration to the online media outlet Indybay.
Ohio high court finds privacy rights trump access in police records case
May 11, 2012
The Ohio Supreme Court yesterday affirmed a lower court’s decision denying The Cincinnati Enquirer access to personally identifying information regarding police officers involved in a shootout with a motorcycle gang. Citing the officers' constitutional right of privacy, the court found those portions of requested records identifying particular officers were exempt from disclosure under the state public records law.
First Amendment prevents prosecution for recording police performance of public duties
May 8, 2012
The Illinois Eavesdropping Act, one of the broadest restrictions on audio recording nationwide, is likely unconstitutional and may not be enforced against the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois when it records conversations of police officers openly engaged in their public duties, a federal appellate court ruled today.
N.Y. appeals court rules agency may withhold records after "inadvertent" prior release
May 8, 2012
A New York mid-level appeals court partially upheld a lower court's decision to deny a records requester documents requested through the state Freedom of Information Law, despite the fact that the agency previously granted the requester access to parts of the documents.
Conn. appeals court interprets open records provision on use of document scanners
May 3, 2012
The Connecticut Appellate Court ruled this week that a state open records law provision permitting records requesters to use “hand-held scanner[s]” to copy records excludes the use of flatbed scanners. Under the court's interpretation of the statute, requesters seeking to scan public records using their own scanning devices may now be limited to using those that are actually "hand-held."
Appeals court throws out nearly $20 million jury award against Hustler Magazine
May 3, 2012
A federal court of appeals threw out an almost $20 million jury award to the family of Nancy Benoit who claimed Hustler Magazine violated their daughter's right of publicity by publishing nude photographs of her after she was killed by her husband, the professional wrestler Chris Benoit in a double murder-suicide.
Council members, protesters and journalists seek federal monitor for New York City police department
May 3, 2012
A federal lawsuit filed early this week by New York City Council members, Occupy protesters, and journalists asks the court to appoint an independent federal official to monitor the city police department's practices regarding First Amendment rights. The suit, which names as defendants Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, and a number of police officers, alleging that the department has engaged in "systematic violations" of their First Amendment rights.
N.C. judge's libel case against citizen activist can move forward, appellate court says
May 2, 2012
A North Carolina appellate court reversed part of a lower court's decision on Tuesday that could reignite a county judge's defamation lawsuit against a citizen activist for statements he made on Facebook criticizing sitting judges' support of a state senatorial candidate. The court held the activist was not constitutionality protected for making false statements, even if he claimed they were his personal opinion.
D.C. court upholds dismissal of defamation suit against pro-Israel lobbying group
May 1, 2012
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by a former employee of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) over comments a spokesman made to The New York Times.
Proposed rule could permit video coverage of Utah courts
May 1, 2012
The Utah Judicial Council unanimously approved measures on Monday that moves video coverage of civil and criminal trial proceedings one step closer to reality. If the changes to state court procedures are adopted, Utah would be propelled from one of the most restrictive states to one of the most open and accessible, in terms of electronic coverage of state courts.
Dallas judge dismisses defamation case against neighborhood blogger
April 30, 2012
A Texas judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit against a neighborhood blogger in Dallas, who was sued by a local bar owner for posting stories about customer violence and business ordinance violations.
Police do not intend to enforce Illinois eavesdropping law during NATO summit
April 30, 2012
Journalists opposing the controversial Illinois eavesdropping statute expressed relief when a Chicago official announced that police do not plan to enforce the law when the city hosts the NATO summit in May. A state representative also introduced a bill last week to make it legal to audio record police officers in public.
Judge denies ex-mistress' request to seal exhibits in John Edwards trial
April 27, 2012
A U.S. District judge rejected a motion by Rielle Hunter, the former mistress of John Edwards, to keep certain exhibits secret in the government's case against the former U.S. senator accused of receiving illegal campaign contributions during his presidential bid to hide the pairs' alleged affair and pay her expenses.
Judge denies request for bin Laden death photos and video
April 27, 2012
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has denied a request to order the U.S. government to publicly release photographs and video under the federal Freedom of Information Act of the U.S. military raid that killed Osama bin Laden last May. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg accepted the CIA’s assertion that release of any photos and video of the body of Osama bin Laden – former leader al-Qaeda – would pose a major threat to national security, and that he would not overturn the agency’s decision to classify the records.