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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: 2013-05-21
Format: 2013-05-21
Maine's amended Freedom of Access Act "a step forward"
September 5, 2012
Recent changes in Maine’s Freedom of Access Act have funded an ombudsman position and improved access to public records under the law. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Richard Rosen and signed into law last week by Gov. Paul LePage, is "a step forward" in the public's ability to access records in a system previously marked by confusion and poor organization, media advocates said.
Police planning credited with avoiding problems at Republican National Convention
September 4, 2012
The 2012 Republican National Convention last week saw minimal arrests, no violence and fewer protesters, a marked contrast from past conventions. The Democratic convention is also starting off with few incidents.
Public interest outweighs confidentiality in Ky. juvenile sexual assault case
August 31, 2012
A Kentucky judge earlier this week granted a local newspaper’s request to unseal records in a juvenile sexual abuse case that sparked widespread support for the victim after she publicly identified her alleged attackers. Jefferson District Court Chief Judge Angela McCormick Bisig also ruled that all proceedings held in the case will be open to the public and allowed the news media to photograph in the courtroom.
Phoenix alternative newspaper can proceed with suit against Arpaio, court rules
August 30, 2012
Two executives of an alternative Arizona newspaper can continue their civil rights and conspiracy lawsuit against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and a special prosecutor hired to investigate the publication. The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco (9th Cir.) reversed a trial court’s dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin, publishers of Phoenix New Times, against Arpaio and Dennis Wilenchik, a former Maricopa County special prosecutor.
Wisconsin radio reporter locked out of Romney campaign event
August 23, 2012
Campaign staffers for presidential candidate Mitt Romney barred a local radio reporter from covering a Republican Wisconsin senator’s stump speech Wednesday on behalf of Romney because of the actions of one of the station’s on-air personalities. Dylan Brogan, a reporter for WTDY Radio in Madison, was assigned to cover the appearance of U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. Johnson’s appearance was billed in a press release as a talk about Romney’s plan to grow the economy and strengthen the middle class.
Minnesota appeals court overturns jury award against blogger
August 21, 2012
John Hoff did not lie. Because of that, the Minneapolis blogger will not be held liable for the firing of a University of Minnesota employee. A three-member panel of the Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday overturned a $60,000 award against Hoff, a blogger who publishes “The Adventures of Johnny Northside.”
Federal appeals court rules against magazine that published copyrighted secret celebrity wedding photos
August 17, 2012
A federal appellate court ruled that a Spanish-language gossip magazine violated the copyrights of a celebrity couple by publishing private photographs of their secret wedding in a case that according to the court “reads like a telenovela."
Federal court relies on state secrets doctrine to dismiss several claims in secret surveillance suit
August 16, 2012
A federal court dismissed nearly all of the claims in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the FBI spying on Muslim Americans, ruling that the government could invoke the “state secrets” privilege to avoid almost all litigation.
Tech companies in lawsuit must identify paid journalists and bloggers, federal court rules
August 15, 2012
Media advocates are concerned about a federal court order that compels two technology companies involved in a drawn-out patent infringement lawsuit to disclose the names of writers they paid to comment about the case. Google and Oracle, a computer technology corporation, have until Friday to identify any journalists or bloggers they paid for writing about the case, ruled Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
OpenCourt can record Mass. jury trials, state high court judge rules
August 15, 2012
OpenCourt, a Massachusetts courtroom transparency program can begin streaming video of jury trials at a local district court, a judge from the state’s highest court ruled on Tuesday.
Calif. appellate court affirms dismissal of libel suit against Gawker under state's anti-SLAPP law
August 15, 2012
A California appellate court upheld the dismissal of a libel suit brought by the head of a small startup tech company against the Internet blogging company Gawker Media.
N.H. activist sentenced to 90 days for recording, disclosing phone conversations with public officials
August 14, 2012
A New Hampshire activist was found guilty on Monday in connection with recording telephone conversations with public officials without their consent and sentenced to 90 days in jail. A state legislator present in court said the "travesty" fueled him to further push for legislation to change the state's law requiring all-party consent in recordings.
Colo. judge upholds majority of sealing and gag orders in Aurora movie theater shooting case
August 14, 2012
The judge presiding over the fatal Colorado movie theater shooting case granted the release of about three dozen relevant court documents on Monday, but kept many of the records under seal.
Colo. judge weighs news organizations' request to unseal court documents in Aurora shooting trial
August 10, 2012
The judge in the shooting-spree case against James Holmes heard arguments Thursday on why court documents should be publicly available, but did not rule on the motion. More than 20 news organizations are asking Chief District Judge William Sylvester to reconsider his decision to seal court documents in the case against Holmes, accused of killing 12 and wounding 58 people at an Aurora movie theater last month.
Va. court dismisses libel charges against newspaper brought by public official
August 9, 2012
A Virginia trial court threw out a $3 million libel verdict against a local newspaper, finding that a local school official failed to show that the allegedly defamatory article was published with actual malice.