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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
Jury awards $13.8M defamation judgment for plaintiffs in anonymous commenter case
April 25, 2012
A jury has awarded a Texas couple $13.78 million in damages in their defamation lawsuit against a number of individuals who anonymously posted more than 25,000 comments about them online. "The jury found that reputations are priceless, or at least very expensive," said William Demond, a Texas attorney who represents Mark and Rhonda Lesher. The Leshers were subjected to accusations of sexual assault, sexual deviancy, and all manner of crimes for approximately a year and a half, according to Megan Hassan, who also represents the Leshers.
OGIS releases FOIA recommendations amid Senate pressure
April 25, 2012
The Office of Government Information Services issued its recommendations for policy changes to the federal Freedom of Information Act yesterday, more than a year after it submitted a draft version to the Office of Management and Budget in February 2011 for review.
Miami judge dismisses former Senate candidate's libel suit against two Fla. newspapers
April 24, 2012
A Florida judge has dismissed a former U.S. Senate candidate's libel suit against the St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald.
Judge unseals court records in Trayvon Martin shooting
April 24, 2012
A Florida judge unsealed court records relating to the case of George Zimmerman - who is charged with the second-degree murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin - following legal requests by several news organizations.
Kentucky appellate court upholds withholding of personal information in police records
April 23, 2012
The Kentucky Court of Appeals partially affirmed a lower court's ruling on Friday, finding that the city of Hopkinsville properly redacted certain information about victims and witnesses in police reports and arrest citations requested by the Kentucky New Era.
Proposed rule to prohibit electronic devices in Fla. courts one step closer to being enacted
April 20, 2012
A proposed addition to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration that would give trial judges the authority to limit the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in courtrooms was submitted to the state's high court this week for approval. If enacted, judges would have the discretion to ban cell phone use by jurors, journalists and members of the public attending court proceedings.
Fourth Circuit to close portions of oral argument in Sterling case to the public
April 19, 2012
Classified portions of oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. (4th Cir.) will be closed to the public in the government's case against ex-CIA official Jeffrey Sterling, who is charged with violating the Espionage Act for disclosing classified information. Only arguments pertaining to the subpoena of New York Times reporter James Risen will be heard in open court.
Department of Labor issues stricter procedures for "press lock-ups"
April 18, 2012
The U.S. Department of Labor issued stricter procedures last week for media organizations participating in the department-named "press lock-ups," which allows selected reporters a 30-minute window in a highly-controlled environment to preview economic data before the information is made public.
Reporter's tweeted photo of juror leads judge to declare mistrial in murder prosecution
April 16, 2012
A Kansas judge declared a mistrial in a murder case after a reporter tweeted a photograph containing the profile of a juror.
Former CIA agent John Kiriakou pleads not guilty to leaking secrets to journalists
April 13, 2012
A former CIA intelligence officer pleaded not guilty this morning to federal charges that he violated the Espionage Act by leaking classified documents to journalists.
Judge delays ruling on press access to Guantanamo trials
April 13, 2012
A military judge avoided ruling on whether members of the news media and the public will have access to the testimony about the prison treatment of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the USS Cole bombing in 2000 which killed 17 Americans. Instead, at Wednesday's pretrial hearing in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, the judge ordered the prison camp to unshackle al-Nashiri when he met with his lawyers, making the accused terrorist's testimony unnecessary.
Photographer files civil rights suit against Suffolk County police for arrest while filming in public
April 12, 2012
A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed in New York yesterday on behalf of a video journalist arrested and detained while filming police activities on a public street. The suit points to 13 other reported incidents in which police throughout Long Island have allegedly prevented journalists and citizens from filming police activity.
Iowa state senator wins $231,000 in defamation suit over campaign ad
April 11, 2012
An Iowa jury awarded a state senator $231,000 in a defamation suit last week, finding that his opponent and the local Democratic Party defamed him in a TV ad that ran during the 2010 senate race. State Sen. Rick Bertrand, a Republican, filed the suit with the Woodbury County District Court within 48 hours after the campaign ad aired claiming that Bertrand “put profit over children’s health,” according to the senator. The ad was paid for by the Iowa Democratic Party and approved by his opponent Rick Mullin, who would eventually lose the election to Bertrand.
Minneapolis police chief admits officer's wrongdoing in roughing up TV photojournalist during Occupy march
April 11, 2012
A cameraman in Minneapolis became a part of the story during an Occupy demonstration Saturday night after a police officer shoved his camera to the ground. The Minneapolis police chief called the incident "stupid" and said the actions of the officer are not endorsed by the police department.
U.S. files unopposed motion to seal parts of oral argument in Sterling, Risen appeals
April 10, 2012
Department of Justice attorneys have filed an unopposed motion to close to the public parts of the upcoming oral argument concerning the Espionage Act prosecution of former CIA analyst Jeffrey Sterling and the related subpoena of New York Times reporter James Risen.