Home Browse Media Law Resources News
Digital Journalist's Legal Guide
Tablet and mobile phone showing news online

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
University officials agree to release videotape of trampling at stadium
November 16, 1993
University officials agree to release videotape of trampling at stadium 11/16/1993 WISCONSIN -- University of Wisconsin officials agreed to release a videotape of last month's trampling incident at Camp Randall Stadium after the Wisconsin State Journal filed suit.
New York high court breathes new life into libel suit against medical examiner
November 16, 1993
New York high court breathes new life into libel suit against medical examiner 11/16/1993 NEW YORK -- In late October, New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals in Albany, reinstated a libel suit filed against the New York Times by the former medical examiner of New York City.
U.S. Supreme Court drops restrictions on access to tapes of oral arguments
November 16, 1993
U.S. Supreme Court drops restrictions on access to tapes of oral arguments 11/16/1993 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Supreme Court dropped restrictions on access to copies of oral arguments audiotapes in early November just three months after it threatened to consider "legal remedies" against a California professor for selling copies of the tapes.
Police chief's 'confidential' police calls found to be to secretary and beauty salon
November 16, 1993
Police chief's 'confidential' police calls found to be to secretary and beauty salon 11/16/1993 ILLINOIS -- An October check of former Belleville Police Chief Robert Hurst's mobile telephone records showed that a third of the calls he blacked out as confidential police business were made to his secretary at her home and at a salon where she worked part- time, according to the Belleville News Democrat.
FCC upholds first fine levied against Stern
November 16, 1993
FCC upholds first fine levied against Stern 11/16/1993 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission upheld its first indecency fine in late October against Infinity Broadcasting Corp. for a Howard Stern show. The fine, a $6,000 penalty for allegedly indecent programming, was issued for Stern's "Christmas Party" broadcast in December 1988.
Television producer sues, alleging censorship of program
November 16, 1993
Television producer sues, alleging censorship of program 11/16/1993 COLORADO -- More than a year after it was produced, Denver Community Television in November broadcast a gay and lesbian talk show program that is the subject of a civil rights suit.
Bill would close driver's records nationwide
November 2, 1993
Bill would close driver's records nationwide 11/02/1993 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Reporters could no longer look at the driving records of any driver licensed by any state if a bill introduced in late October by Rep. James Moran (D-Va.) is enacted.
Press association head challenges secret state Supreme Court actions
November 2, 1993
Press association head challenges secret state Supreme Court actions 11/02/1993 NEVADA -- Nevada Press Association President Ande Engleman filed a complaint in mid- October with the state Judicial Discipline Commission in response to a secret state Supreme Court decision to remove a case from the docket and stop disciplinary proceedings against a state judge. Engleman wants to open and unseal the proceedings and protect reporters from having to reveal sources.
3 plead guilty to planning editor's murder
November 2, 1993
3 plead guilty to planning editor's murder 11/02/1993 NEW YORK -- Three people pleaded guilty to helping arrange the execution-style murder of New York journalist Manuel de Dios Unanue, who was shot to death in March 1992 on the order of a Colombian drug lord, according to newspaper reports and court papers unsealed in late October.
Reno threatens to use government restrictions to control violence on television
November 2, 1993
Reno threatens to use government restrictions to control violence on television 11/02/1993 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno gave the television industry an ultimatum on Oct. 20: significantly reduce television violence by Jan. 1 or the government will enact laws to do it for you.
Prosecutor drops charges against man accused of stealing papers from library
November 2, 1993
Prosecutor drops charges against man accused of stealing papers from library 11/02/1993 MARYLAND -- The Maryland State's Attorney dropped criminal charges in late October against Stephen George Tyma, who was charged with removing copies of a free gay newspaper from a public library in Wheaton. "Now people who take it have carte blanche," said T.J. Mueller, circulation manager for the Washington Blade. "I was disappointed."
Appeals court upholds order forcing tabloid to reveal confidential sources
November 2, 1993
Appeals court upholds order forcing tabloid to reveal confidential sources 11/02/1993 CALIFORNIA -- In mid-October the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco (9th Cir.) upheld a district court order requiring the Star tabloid to disclose its confidential sources for an article that prompted a libel suit by comedian Rodney Dangerfield.
Judge frees sociologist who was jailed for refusing to reveal sources
November 2, 1993
Judge frees sociologist who was jailed for refusing to reveal sources 11/02/1993 WASHINGTON -- In mid-October, Judge Wm. Fremming Nielsen of the U.S. District Court in Spokane ordered the release of Rik Scarce, a sociologist jailed since mid-May for refusing to answer grand jury questions about the animal liberation movement.
Federal judge orders government to provide better descriptions of withheld records
November 2, 1993
Federal judge orders government to provide better descriptions of withheld records 11/02/1993 NEW YORK -- The Justice Department must describe more fully records it intends to withhold on the activities of its National Obscenity Enforcement Unit from the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, a federal district court in Manhattan ruled in early October.
Court allows couple to sue doctor anonymously
November 2, 1993
Court allows couple to sue doctor anonymously 11/02/1993 VIRGINIA -- A trial court erred in denying a couple's request to proceed anonymously in their medical malpractice and fraud suit against a fertility doctor, a federal appeals court in Richmond ruled in early October. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond (4th Cir.) held that the risk of harm to innocent third parties, the couple's children, outweighs the minimal risk of prejudice to the defendant, Cecil Jacobson.